Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

The present disclosure pertains to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program which make it possible to exhibit the same performance regardless of a reception sensitivity difference between terminal models. This information processing device comprises a control unit that compares a first signal and a second signal by short-range wireless communication, and performs prescribed output processing on the basis of the detection of a change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal. The technology of the present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a terminal device or the like that senses a beacon signal and executes content reproduction processing for reproducing the content.

Description

Information processing device, information processing method, and program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program, and more particularly to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that are capable of achieving the same performance regardless of differences in reception sensitivity between terminal models.

[0002] One method for detecting indoor location is to use beacon signals from Bluetooth (registered trademark), a short-range wireless communication technology. By detecting the beacon signal output from a transmitter and comparing the received strength (RSSI) of the beacon signal, location determination can be performed, such as determining whether the device is approaching the transmitter. For example, Patent Documents 1 to 4 disclose technologies for measuring the absolute location of a user's mobile device using a triangulation method or the like based on the beacon signal.

[0003] JP 2020-056602 A JP 2018-096952 A JP 2019-144025 A JP 2019-190945 A

[0004] Since the receiving sensitivity for receiving beacon signals differs depending on the model of mobile terminal, the detected position of the beacon signal differs depending on the mobile terminal. The techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 disclose techniques for correcting errors in the absolute position of a single device, but do not address differences in receiving sensitivity between terminal models.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and aims to enable the same performance to be exhibited regardless of differences in reception sensitivity between terminal models.

[0006] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a control unit that compares a first signal and a second signal transmitted via short-range wireless communication, and performs predetermined output processing based on the detection of a change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal.

[0007] An information processing method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes comparing a first signal and a second signal transmitted via short-range wireless communication, and performing predetermined output processing based on the detection of a change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal.

[0008] A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to execute a process of comparing a first signal and a second signal transmitted by short-range wireless communication, and performing a predetermined output process based on the detection of a change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal.

[0009] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a first signal and a second signal are compared via short-range wireless communication, and a predetermined output process is performed based on the detection of a change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal.

[0010] The program can be provided by transmitting it via a transmission medium or by recording it on a recording medium.

[0011] The information processing device may be an independent device or an internal block constituting a single device.

[0012] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a content playback system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a phenomenon that may occur due to a difference in receiving sensitivity between terminal models. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a phenomenon that may occur due to a difference in receiving sensitivity between terminal models. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a phenomenon that may occur due to a difference in receiving sensitivity between terminal models. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first position detection method. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the first position detection method. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the second position detection method. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a comparison between a signal presence / absence position detection method and this method. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating theoretical values ​​and actual characteristics of the reception strength of a beacon signal. A block diagram illustrating a detailed example configuration of a content playback system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the first content playback example. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the first content playback example. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the second content playback example. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating content playback processing using the first position detection method. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the third content playback example. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the third content playback example. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the fourth content playback example. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the fourth content playback example. FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating content playback processing using the second position detection method. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the fifth content playback example. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a fifth content playback example. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a sixth content playback example. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a sixth content playback example. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a content playback space setting example. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a content playback space setting example. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a seventh content playback example. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the seventh content playback example. A flowchart illustrating content playback processing of the seventh content playback example. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an eighth content playback example. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the eighth content playback example. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating the eighth content playback example. A flowchart illustrating content playback processing by a first position detection method. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating the ninth content playback example. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating the ninth content playback example. A flowchart illustrating content playback processing by a second position detection method. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of a content playback system of a second embodiment.1 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of an embodiment of a computer to which the technology of the present disclosure is applied.

[0013] Modes for implementing the technology of the present disclosure (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. The description will be given in the following order. [First embodiment of content playback system] 1. Configuration example of content playback system 2. Problems caused by differences in reception sensitivity between terminal models 3. First position detection method for user terminal 4. Second position detection method for user terminal 5. Comparison between signal presence / absence position detection method and present method 6. Block diagram of first embodiment 7. First content playback example 8. Second content playback example 9. Content playback process using first position detection method 10. Third content playback example 11. Fourth content playback example 12. Content playback process using second position detection method 13. Fifth content playback example 14. Sixth content playback example 15. Content playback space setting example 16. Seventh content playback example [Second embodiment of content playback system] 17. Eighth Content Playback Example 18. Content Playback Processing Using First Position Detection Method 19. Ninth Content Playback Example 20. Content Playback Processing Using Second Position Detection Method 21. Block Diagram of Second Embodiment 22. Summary of Content Playback System 23. Application Examples Other Than Controlling Content Playback 24. Computer Configuration Example

[0014] [First Embodiment of Content Reproduction System] First, a first embodiment of a content reproduction system will be described.

[0015] 1. Configuration Example of Content Reproduction System FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a content reproduction system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] The content playback system 1 in Fig. 1 includes at least a content server 11, a user terminal 12, and multiple beacon transmitters 13 (13A, 13B), and is a system that can play back content provided by the content server 11 on the user terminal 12 according to a preset area. The content server 11, the user terminal 12, and the multiple beacon transmitters 13 are connectable to each other via a network 14. The user terminal 12 and the beacon transmitters 13 may communicate directly. Note that the beacon transmitters 13 do not have to be connected to the network 14. The network 14 is formed, for example, by the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or the like, and may be a wired or wireless communication network.

[0017] The content server 11 is a server device (information processing device) that stores multiple pieces of content and provides a content playback service that plays the content on the user terminal 12. The content provided (transmitted) to the user terminal 12 and played back includes, for example, background music, audio such as dialogue, images, and moving images. The content may also be text (characters), vibration, or the like. Furthermore, multiple pieces of content, such as audio and images or vibrations, may be played back simultaneously, or one piece of content to be played back may include multiple pieces of content, such as audio and images or vibrations.

[0018] The user terminal 12 is a terminal device (information processing device) carried by a user who uses the content playback service, and is configured, for example, as a smartphone, tablet, portable device, etc. In this embodiment, the user terminal 12 is a smartphone.

[0019] The user terminal 12 connects to the content server 11 via the network 14 and plays back content acquired from the content server 11. In addition to the function of communicating with the content server 11, the user terminal 12 has a function of short-range wireless communication based on standards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), and performs short-range wireless communication with multiple beacon transmitters 13.

[0020] The beacon transmitter 13 is a signal transmitter that emits a beacon signal (Bluetooth beacon signal) according to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard or the BLE standard. The beacon transmitter 13 may be a signal transmitter that emits a beacon signal according to other standards. The beacon signal includes a beacon ID as identification information that individually identifies each beacon transmitter 13. The beacon transmitters 13A and 13B emit beacon signals with different beacon IDs. If the beacon ID emitted by the beacon transmitter 13 is known, the beacon transmitter 13 does not necessarily need to be connected to the network 14.

[0021] In the content playback system 1, each beacon transmitter 13 is arranged in a predetermined area of ​​a service space where a content playback service is provided. A user terminal 12 plays content in response to the result of detecting a beacon signal transmitted from one or more beacon transmitters 13.

[0022] 1 shows only one user terminal 12 and two beacon transmitters 13A and 13B for simplicity, but three or more beacon transmitters 13 may be placed depending on the set area of ​​the service space. Also, the same number of user terminals 12 as the number of users who will enjoy the service may be connected.

[0023] 2. Problems Caused by Differences in Receiving Sensitivity Between Terminal Models As a method for detecting the location of a user terminal 12 using a beacon signal transmitted from a beacon transmitter 13, there is a method for determining whether or not a beacon signal is present, specifically, when a beacon signal with a reception strength equal to or greater than a certain value is obtained, that the user terminal 12 is present in the area of ​​the beacon transmitter 13 identified by a beacon ID, as shown in FIG. 2 . The reception strength of the beacon signal is a value known as RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication). Furthermore, detecting the location of the user terminal 12 essentially means detecting the location of the user carrying the user terminal 12, and in the following description, "the user terminal 12 is in a specific area" or "is not in a specific area" may be referred to as "the user is in a specific area" or "is not in a specific area."

[0024] In a signal presence / absence position detection method that detects the terminal position by detecting the presence or absence of a beacon signal, if the sensitivity differs depending on the model of the user terminal 12 owned by the user, a phenomenon occurs in which the detected position differs.

[0025] 3 and 4 are diagrams for explaining phenomena that can occur due to differences in reception sensitivity between terminal models.

[0026] 3, for example, if a beacon signal is detected with a reception strength of -50 dBm or more, the user is determined to be within the area of ​​that beacon transmitter 13. User X's user terminal 12X is a model with high reception sensitivity, while user Y's user terminal 12Y is a model with low reception sensitivity. User X of user terminal 12X is determined to be in area a of beacon transmitter 13A within detection range 21a, and is determined to be in area b of beacon transmitter 13B within detection range 21b. On the other hand, user Y of user terminal 12Y is determined to be in area a of beacon transmitter 13A within detection range 21a', but is determined to be out of area b of beacon transmitter 13B because the beacon signal cannot be detected.

[0027] In this way, the detection area of ​​the beacon transmitter 13 changes depending on the sensitivity difference between models. As shown in Figure 4, even if a content playback range in which content is played is set by the reference terminal 12S, for example, the content playback range will be narrower in the user terminal 12Y with low reception sensitivity, and the content playback range will be wider in the user terminal 12X with high reception sensitivity. Therefore, the content playback range will change depending on the sensitivity difference between the models of the user terminals 12, and it will not be possible to provide the same content playback range to each user.

[0028] 3. First Location Detection Method of User Terminal> Therefore, the user terminal 12 of the content playback system 1 of FIG. 1 employs a location detection method different from the signal presence / absence location detection method described above, and is configured to prevent the phenomenon of different detected locations due to differences in reception sensitivity between terminal models. Specifically, the user terminal 12 employs a signal comparison location detection method that detects the terminal location by comparing the reception strength or the time change rate of two beacon signals. Hereinafter, the method of comparing the reception strength of two beacon signals will be referred to as the first location detection method, and the method of comparing the time change rate of the reception strength of two beacon signals will be referred to as the second location detection method. The user terminal 12 can selectively execute either the first location detection method or the second location detection method, or can select and execute both. The first and second location detection methods will be described below.

[0029] First, the first position detection method will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0030] In FIG. 5, two beacon transmitters 13A and 13B are placed in a predetermined area, and the signal strengths a and b of the beacon signals emitted by the two beacon transmitters 13A and 13B are the same.

[0031] In the first position detection method, the user terminal 12 compares the reception strengths a and b of the two beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, and detects the position of the user terminal 12 based on which of the two reception strengths a and b is larger.

[0032] For example, as shown in Figure 5, when user X is in area 31A, user terminal 12X of user X can only receive the beacon signal from beacon transmitter 13A. When user X is in area 31B, user terminal 12X can receive two beacon signals from beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, and the relationship between the reception intensities a and b of the two beacon signals is such that reception intensity a is greater than reception intensity b (a > b). When user X is in area 31C, user terminal 12X can receive two beacon signals from beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, and the relationship between the reception intensities a and b of the two beacon signals is such that reception intensity b is greater than reception intensity a (a < b). When user X is in area 31D, user terminal 12X of user X can only receive the beacon signal from beacon transmitter 13B. Therefore, by comparing the reception intensities a and b of the two beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, it is possible to determine whether user X is in area 31B or area 31C. Even if user X in area 31B makes a U-turn, the magnitude relationship between the reception intensities a and b does not change, so there is no risk of misidentifying the area.

[0033] It is assumed that the user terminal 12X of user X is a model with high reception sensitivity, and the user terminal 12Y of user Y is a model with lower reception sensitivity than the user terminal 12X.

[0034] When user Y is in area 32A, user terminal 12Y of user Y can only receive the beacon signal from beacon transmitter 13A. When user Y is in area 32B, user terminal 12Y can receive two beacon signals from beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, and the relationship between the reception strengths a and b of the two beacon signals is such that reception strength a is greater than reception strength b (a > b). When user Y is in area 32C, user terminal 12Y can receive two beacon signals from beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, and the relationship between the reception strengths a and b of the two beacon signals is such that reception strength b is greater than reception strength a (a < b). When user Y is in area 32D, user terminal 12Y of user Y can only receive the beacon signal from beacon transmitter 13B. Therefore, by comparing the reception intensities a and b of the two beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, it is possible to determine whether user Y is in area 32B or area 32C. Even if user Y in area 32B makes a U-turn, the magnitude relationship between the reception intensities a and b does not change, so the area will not be recognized incorrectly.

[0035] In the example of Figure 5, the position 33 where the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths a and b of the two beacon signals changes from a > b to a < b or from a b is the same for user terminals 12X and 12Y with different reception sensitivities, and is a fixed point that does not depend on the difference in reception sensitivity between terminal models.

[0036] FIG. 6 shows an example in which the signal strengths a and b of the beacon signals emitted by the two beacon transmitters 13A and 13B are different.

[0037] Even if the reception strengths a and b of the two beacon transmitters 13A and 13B are different, the areas 31B and 31C and the areas 32B and 32C can be determined in the same way based on the position 33, and even if a U-turn is made, the area will not be recognized incorrectly. The position 33 is the same for the user terminals 12X and 12Y, which have different reception sensitivities.

[0038] Therefore, according to the first position detection method, the same position 33 can be set for the user terminals 12X and 12Y with different reception sensitivities. By detecting the passage of a user and setting the same position 33 for the user terminals 12X and 12Y with different reception sensitivities as the playback start point or playback end point for playing or ending content, the same content playback range can be provided to each user having a user terminal 12 with different reception sensitivities.

[0039] 7, the first position detection method can determine the direction from which user X passed through position 33 based on the change in the magnitude relationship between the reception intensities a and b of two beacon transmitters 13A and 13B before and after passing through position 33. That is, if the magnitude relationship between the reception intensities a and b changes from a > b to a < b, it can be determined that user X passed through position 33 in the direction from area 31B to area 31C. If the magnitude relationship between the reception intensities a and b changes from a b, it can be determined that user X passed through position 33 in the direction from area 31C to area 31B.

[0040] 4. Second Position Detection Method for User Terminal Next, the second position detection method will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0041] In the second position detection method, a time rate of change, which is the time differential of the reception strength of the beacon transmitter 13, is adopted.

[0042] For example, assume a state in which user X can receive a beacon signal from the beacon transmitter 13, as shown in Fig. 8. When user X approaches the beacon transmitter 13 in area 43A, the sign of the time rate of change of the reception strength a of the beacon signal from the beacon transmitter 13 received by the user terminal 12X is positive ((da / dt)>0). On the other hand, when user X moves away from the beacon transmitter 13 in area 43B, the sign of the time rate of change of the beacon signal from the beacon transmitter 13 received by the user terminal 12X is negative ((da / dt)<0).

[0043] When user Y, whose user terminal 12Y has lower reception sensitivity than user terminal 12X, approaches the beacon transmitter 13 in area 44A, the sign of the time rate of change of the reception strength a of the beacon signal from the beacon transmitter 13 received by user terminal 12Y becomes positive ((da / dt)>0). On the other hand, when user Y moves away from the beacon transmitter 13 in area 44B, the sign of the time rate of change of the beacon signal from the beacon transmitter 13 received by user terminal 12Y becomes negative ((da / dt)<0).

[0044] As described above, the magnitude relationship between the signs of the time rate of change remains the same regardless of differences in reception sensitivity. Position 45, where the sign of the time rate of change of the reception strength a of the two beacon signals changes from positive to negative or from negative to positive, is a fixed point that is independent of the difference in reception sensitivity between terminal models.

[0045] However, even if the user approaches position 45 and makes a U-turn along the way, without passing through position 45, the sign of the time rate of change of reception strength a changes from positive to negative. In other words, it is not possible to distinguish between a case where the user has passed position 45 and a case where the user has made a U-turn without passing through position 45, based only on the sign of the time rate of change of reception strength a of the beacon signal from one beacon transmitter 13.

[0046] Therefore, in the second position detection method, the signs of the time change rates of the reception strengths a and b of the two beacon transmitters 13A and 13B are compared, and the position of the user terminal 12 is detected based on the change in the signs of the time change rates of the two reception strengths a and b.

[0047] For example, as shown in Figure 9, two beacon transmitters 13A and 13B are placed at a predetermined interval. Consider the case where user X passes between beacon transmitters 13A and 13B from left to right in the figure. When user X is in area 46A, user terminal 12X can only receive the beacon signal from beacon transmitter 13A, and the sign of the time rate of change of reception strength a is positive (+). When user X is in area 46B, user terminal 12X can receive two beacon signals from beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, and the signs of the time rate of change of reception strength a and b of the two beacon signals are both positive (+, +). When user X is in area 46C, user terminal 12X can receive two beacon signals from beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, and the sign of the time rate of change of reception strength a is negative (-) and the sign of the time rate of change of reception strength b is positive (+). When user X is in area 46D, user terminal 12X can receive two beacon signals from beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, and the signs of the time rate of change of reception strength a and b are both negative (-, -).When user X is in area 46D, user terminal 12X can receive only the beacon signal from beacon transmitter 13B, and the sign of the time rate of change of reception strength b is negative (-).

[0048] Consider user Y, who has user terminal 12Y with lower reception sensitivity than user terminal 12X. When user Y is in area 47A, user terminal 12Y can only receive the beacon signal from beacon transmitter 13A, and the sign of the time rate of change of reception strength a is positive (+). When user Y is in area 47B, user terminal 12Y can receive two beacon signals from beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, and the sign of the time rate of change of reception strength a is negative (-), and the sign of the time rate of change of reception strength b is positive (+). When user X is in area 47C, user terminal 12Y can only receive the beacon signal from beacon transmitter 13B, and the sign of the time rate of change of reception strength b is negative (-).

[0049] Therefore, according to the second position detection method, the same positions 45A, 45B can be set for the user terminals 12X, 12Y with different reception sensitivities. By detecting the passage of a user and setting the same positions 45A, 45B for the user terminals 12X, 12Y with different reception sensitivities as the playback start point or playback end point for playing or ending content, the same content playback range can be provided for each user having a user terminal 12 with different reception sensitivities.

[0050] The distance (width) between positions 45A and 45B is constant regardless of the receiving sensitivity of the model, and can be adjusted by the placement of the beacon transmitters 13A and 13B. By adjusting the placement of the beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, the robustness of user passage detection can be adjusted. To increase the robustness, the placement interval between the beacon transmitters 13A and 13B can be increased.

[0051] 5. Comparison of Signal Presence / Absence Location Detection Method and This Method> With reference to FIG. 10 , the characteristics of the signal presence / absence location detection method, which detects the terminal location by detecting the presence or absence of a beacon signal, and the signal comparison location detection method (hereinafter also referred to as this method) that uses changes in the relationship between two beacon signals employed by the user terminal 12 will be described.

[0052] 10A shows the content playback range in a signal presence / absence position detection method, which detects the presence or absence of a beacon signal to locate a terminal's location, and then plays and ends the content. Hatching indicates the content playback range on each terminal.

[0053] In the signal presence / absence location detection method, the beacon signal defines the content playback area, and the output range of the beacon signal is the content playback area. The playback area is limited to the output range of the beacon signal. The playback areas differ for the reference terminal 12S, the user terminal 12X, and the user terminal 12Y, which have different reception sensitivities.

[0054] Fig. 10B shows the content playback range in this method, which detects the terminal location by comparing the reception strength of two beacon signals or their time change rate. The hatched area indicates the content playback range of each terminal.

[0055] In this method, a beacon signal defines a passing position, and the content playback area is defined by two or more beacon signals. The fixed points of the two beacon signals are the content playback start point or playback end point. The content playback start point and playback end point are constant regardless of the reception sensitivity of the device, so the content playback range is constant on all devices. Therefore, the content playback area is not limited by the output range of the beacon signal, and the same content playback range can be provided to each user. In other words, this method allows the same performance to be achieved regardless of differences in reception sensitivity between device models.

[0056] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing theoretical values ​​and actual characteristics of the reception strength of a beacon signal with respect to distance.

[0057] In FIG. 11, the solid line indicates the theoretical value of the relationship between the reception strength of the beacon signal and the distance, and each point indicates the actually measured value of the reception strength of the beacon signal at each distance.

[0058] The only distance over which the difference in the received signal strength (RSSI) of the beacon signal can maintain linearity is the short-distance area shown in the circle in Figure 11, and linearity cannot be maintained over long distances. This is because the longer the distance, the more susceptible it is to the effects of multipath fading, and the shorter the distance, the more direct wave components there are.

[0059] This method is an algorithm that only targets areas with strong reception strength, for example, areas within a distance of 5m, and does not need to use areas with weak reception strength. Therefore, it is possible to cut out areas with weak reception strength, and by using only strong reception strength through filtering, it is possible to prevent erroneous judgments without being affected by areas with weak reception strength that would reduce accuracy.

[0060] 6. Block Diagram of First Embodiment FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the detailed configuration of the content server 11, the user terminal 12, and the beacon transmitter 13. As shown in FIG.

[0061] The content server 11 includes a communication unit 71 , a storage unit 72 , and a control unit 73 .

[0062] The communication unit 71 is composed of a network interface and the like, and communicates with the user terminal 12 and the beacon transmitter 13 via the network 14 under the control of the control unit 73. For example, the communication unit 71 communicates with the beacon transmitter 13 and acquires the beacon ID of the beacon transmitter 13. In addition, for example, the communication unit 71 transmits data of content (content data) to be played by the user terminal 12 and a content playback table to the user terminal 12. The content playback table, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 14 etc., is a table that specifies playback or stop of content to be executed at fixed points that are the playback start point and playback end point of the content, and specifies the content to be played.

[0063] The storage unit 72 is configured by, for example, a hard disk or semiconductor memory, and stores various data (information) such as content data and a content playback table supplied from the control unit 73. The storage unit 72 also supplies the various stored data to the control unit 73 in response to a request from the control unit 73.

[0064] The control unit 73 controls the overall operation of the content server 11. For example, the control unit 73 controls the communication unit 71 to transmit content data and a content playback table to the user terminal 12. The control unit 73 also controls the communication unit 71 to generate a content playback table based on a beacon ID acquired from the beacon transmitter 13, and stores the table in the storage unit 72.

[0065] The user terminal 12 includes an input unit 81 , a display unit 82 , an output unit 83 , a short-range communication unit 84 , a communication unit 85 , a storage unit 86 , and a control unit 87 .

[0066] The input unit 81 is composed of, for example, a touch panel, switches, buttons, etc., superimposed on the display unit 82, and supplies signals to the control unit 87 in response to user operations.

[0067] The display unit 82 is composed of, for example, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel or a liquid crystal panel, and displays various images under the control of the control unit 87. The output unit 83 is composed of, for example, a vibration element such as a piezoelectric actuator or a piezoelectric actuator, a speaker, and the like, and outputs the sound, music, vibration, etc. of the content under the control of the control unit 87.

[0068] The short-range communication unit 84 is composed of a communication device that communicates in accordance with the standard of the signal emitted by the beacon transmitter 13, such as the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard or the BLE standard, detects the beacon signal from the beacon transmitter 13, and supplies the acquired beacon ID, etc. to the control unit 87.

[0069] The communication unit 85 communicates with the content server 11 via the network 14. For example, the communication unit 85 acquires content data and a content playback table from the content server 11 and supplies them to the control unit 87.

[0070] The storage unit 86 is configured with, for example, a hard disk or semiconductor memory, and stores various data (information), such as an application program (hereinafter referred to as a playback application) for using a content playback service that detects a beacon signal and plays content, and content data and a content playback table acquired from the content server 11. The storage unit 86 supplies the stored data to the control unit 87 as necessary.

[0071] The control unit 87 controls the overall operation of the user terminal 12. For example, the control unit 87 executes a playback application in response to a user operation, causes the display unit 82 to display a screen (image) or text (characters) of the playback application, and causes the output unit 83 to output sound and vibration of the content. Content data of content played by the playback application may be downloaded in advance and stored in the storage unit 86, or may be obtained during playback via streaming playback.

[0072] The beacon transmitter 13 includes a communication unit 91 , a beacon transmitting unit 92 , and a control unit 93 .

[0073] The communication unit 91 is composed of a network interface and the like, and communicates with the content server 11 via the network 14 under the control of the control unit 93. For example, the communication unit 91 transmits its own (beacon transmitter 13) beacon ID and the like to the content server 11 via the network 14.

[0074] The beacon transmitter 92 includes an antenna and transmits a beacon signal (Bluetooth beacon signal) conforming to a predetermined standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), BLE, etc. The beacon signal output from the beacon transmitter 92 includes at least a beacon ID.

[0075] The control unit 93 controls the overall operation of the beacon transmitter 13. For example, the control unit 93 controls the communication unit 91 to transmit the beacon ID of the beacon transmitter 13 itself to the content server 11 at a predetermined timing. The control unit 93 also controls the beacon transmitting unit 92 to output a beacon signal at a predetermined time interval.

[0076] 7. First Content Playback Example Next, a first content playback example will be described with reference to Fig. 13 and Fig. 14. The first content playback example is an example in which a content playback service is provided using a first position detection method.

[0077] FIG. 13 shows a service space in which a content playback service is provided and an example of the arrangement of beacon transmitters 13 in the first content playback example.

[0078] In the first content playback example, four beacon transmitters 13, 13A to 13D, are placed in a service space. Fig. 13 shows the reception strength (RSSI) of the beacon signals of the beacon transmitters 13A to 13D at each position in the service space. Position 121 is a position where the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths a and b of the two beacon signals from beacon transmitters 13A and 13B changes, and is a fixed point that does not depend on the difference in reception sensitivity of the user terminal 12. Position 122 is a position where the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths c and d of the two beacon signals from beacon transmitters 13C and 13D changes, and is a fixed point that does not depend on the difference in reception sensitivity of the user terminal 12.

[0079] FIG. 14 shows an example of a content reproduction table that is downloaded from the content server 11 to the user terminal 12X of user X and stored in the storage unit 86, corresponding to the service space of FIG.

[0080] The content playback table is a table that associates the state of the reception strength of the beacon signal when passing through a fixed point with the playback state of the content. In the service space of Fig. 13, there are two fixed points, position 121 and position 122, and there are two directions for passing through each position, so a total of four reception strength states are associated with the content playback state. The content playback state can be either content playback or stopped.

[0081] A case will be described in which a user X moves from a position POS1 to a position POS2, passing through a position 121 and a position 122 in this order, in the service space of FIG.

[0082] The playback app of the user terminal 12X located at position POS1 is playing content 100. When the playback app is launched, the playback app plays pre-set content. For example, user X may have launched the playback app at position POS1 and started playing content 100. Alternatively, the user may have passed a fixed point (not shown) to the left of position POS1 and reached position POS1, and as a result of playing content according to a content playback table for the fixed point (not shown), the playback app may be playing content 100 at position POS1. The content 100 may be, for example, background music.

[0083] User X moves from position POS1 toward position 121 and passes through position 121. The magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing position 121 is a>b, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b after passing position 121 is a<b. According to the content playback table of FIG. 14, if the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b is a>b before passing and a<b after passing, it is specified that content 101 and content 102 are played and content 100 and content 103 are stopped. After passing position 121, the playback application stops playing content 100 and plays content 101 and content 102. Content 101 is, for example, background music, and content 102 is, for example, dialogue (voice).

[0084] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 122 and passes through position 122. The magnitude relationship between reception intensities c and d before passing position 122 is c>d, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities c and d after passing position 122 is c<d. According to the content playback table of FIG. 14, if the magnitude relationship between reception intensities c and d before passing is c>d and becomes c<d after passing, content 103 is played and contents 100 to 102 are stopped. After passing position 122, the playback application stops playing contents 101 and 102 and plays content 103. Content 103 is, for example, background music.

[0085] Next, a case where user X moves from position POS2 to position POS1, passing through positions 122 and 121 in this order, will be described.

[0086] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS2 is playing back the content 103.

[0087] User X moves from position POS2 toward position 122 and passes through position 122. The magnitude relationship between reception intensities c and d before passing position 122 is c<d, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities c and d after passing position 122 is c>d. According to the content playback table of FIG. 14, if the magnitude relationship between reception intensities c and d is c<d before passing and c<d after passing, it is specified that contents 101 and 102 are played and contents 100 and 103 are stopped. After passing position 122, the playback application stops playing content 103 and plays contents 101 and 102.

[0088] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 121 and passes through position 121. The magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing position 121 is a<b, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b after passing position 121 is a>b. According to the content playback table of FIG. 14, if the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing is ab after passing, content 100 is played and contents 101 to 103 are stopped. After passing position 121, the playback application stops playing contents 101 and 102 and plays content 100.

[0089] As described above, the playback application can control the playback and stopping of content based on the content playback table of Figure 14, which associates the relationship between the reception strength of two beacon signals before and after passing through the fixed point position with the content playback status.

[0090] 8. Second Content Playback Example Next, a second content playback example will be described with reference to Fig. 15 and Fig. 16. The second content playback example is also an example in which a content playback service is provided using the first position detection method.

[0091] The second content playback example in FIGS. 15 and 16 shows an example in which one beacon signal is shared by two fixed points.

[0092] FIG. 15 shows a service space in which a content reproduction service is provided and an example of the arrangement of beacon transmitters 13 in the second content reproduction example.

[0093] Three beacon transmitters 13, 13A to 13C, are placed in the service space of Fig. 15. Fig. 15 shows the reception strength (RSSI) of the beacon signals of the beacon transmitters 13A to 13C at each position in the service space. Position 141 is a position where the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths a and b of the two beacon signals from beacon transmitters 13A and 13B changes, and is a fixed point that does not depend on the difference in reception sensitivity of the user terminal 12. Position 142 is a position where the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths b and c of the two beacon signals from beacon transmitters 13B and 13C changes, and is a fixed point that does not depend on the difference in reception sensitivity of the user terminal 12.

[0094] FIG. 16 shows an example of a content reproduction table that is downloaded from the content server 11 to the user terminal 12X of user X and stored in the storage unit 86, corresponding to the service space of FIG.

[0095] 15, there are two fixed points, positions 141 and 142, and there are two possible directions for passing through each position, so a total of four different reception strength states are associated with the content playback state. The content playback state can be either the content playback or stopped state.

[0096] A case will be described in which a user X moves from a position POS1 to a position POS2, passing through a position 141 and a position 142 in this order, in the service space of FIG.

[0097] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS1 is playing back content 100. The content 100 is, for example, background music.

[0098] User X moves from position POS1 toward position 121 and passes position 141. The magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing position 141 is a>b, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b after passing position 141 is a<b. According to the content playback table of FIG. 16 , if the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing is a>b and a<b after passing, it is specified that content 101 and content 102 are played and content 100 and content 103 are stopped. After passing position 141, the playback application stops playing content 100 and plays content 101 and content 102.

[0099] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 142 and passes through position 142. The magnitude relationship between reception intensities b and c before passing position 142 is b>c, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities b and c after passing position 142 is b<c. According to the content playback table of FIG. 16, if the magnitude relationship between reception intensities b and c before passing is b>c and after passing is b<c, content 103 is played and contents 100 to 102 are stopped. After passing position 142, the playback application stops playing contents 101 and 102 and plays content 103.

[0100] Next, a case where user X moves from position POS2 to position POS1, passing through positions 142 and 141 in this order, will be described.

[0101] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS2 is playing back the content 103.

[0102] User X moves from position POS2 toward position 142 and passes through position 142. The magnitude relationship between reception intensities b and c before passing position 142 is b<c, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities b and c after passing position 142 is b>c. According to the content playback table of FIG. 16 , if the magnitude relationship between reception intensities b and c before passing is b<c and after passing is b>c, it is specified that contents 101 and 102 are played and contents 100 and 103 are stopped. After passing position 142, the playback application stops playing content 103 and plays contents 101 and 102.

[0103] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 141 and passes through position 141. The magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing position 141 is a<b, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b after passing position 141 is a>b. According to the content playback table of FIG. 16 , if the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing is ab after passing, content 100 is played and contents 101 to 103 are stopped. After passing position 141, the playback application stops playing contents 101 and 102 and plays content 100.

[0104] As described above, even when one beacon signal is shared by two fixed points, content playback and stopping can be controlled based on the content playback table of Figure 16, which associates the relationship between the reception strengths of the two beacon signals before and after passing the fixed point position with the content playback state.

[0105] 9. Content Playback Processing Using the First Position Detection Method Next, the content playback processing using the first position detection method will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 17. This processing is started, for example, after a playback application is launched on the user terminal 12X and content that was preset at the time of launching the playback application is played. It is assumed that a content playback table corresponding to the service space in which the content playback service is provided has already been acquired and stored in the storage unit 86.

[0106] First, in step S11, the playback application of the user terminal 12X determines whether two beacon signals with different beacon IDs have been detected, and repeats the processing of step S11 until it is determined that two beacon signals have been detected.

[0107] If it is determined in step S11 that two beacon signals have been detected, the processes of steps S12 and S13 and the processes of steps S14 and S15 are executed in parallel.

[0108] Assuming that the two beacon signals with different beacon IDs detected in step S11 are a first beacon signal and a second beacon signal, the playback application detects the reception strength of the first beacon signal in step S12, and then executes a noise reduction filter to remove noise from the first beacon signal in step S13. The playback application also detects the reception strength of the second beacon signal in step S14, and then executes a noise reduction filter to remove noise from the second beacon signal in step S15. Examples of noise reduction filters used in steps S13 and S15 include a Kalman filter and a low-pass filter. Furthermore, one type of noise reduction filter may be configured to cut off the beacon signal if the signal strength of at least one of the first and second beacon signals is weak and less than a predetermined value (e.g., −55 dBm), thereby preventing the processing from step S15 onward. In this case, the processing returns to step S11.

[0109] After step S13 or step S15, in step S16, the playback application compares the reception strength of the first beacon signal with that of the second beacon signal, and stores the comparison result in the storage unit 86. The comparison result of the reception strength stored in the storage unit 86 is used in the next process of step S17.

[0110] In step S17, the playback application compares the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths of the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal obtained in step S16 with the previous comparison result of the reception strengths stored in the memory unit 86, and determines whether there has been a change in the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths.

[0111] If it is determined in step S17 that there is no change in the magnitude relationship of the reception intensities, the process returns to step S11, and the processes of steps S11 to S17 described above are repeated. Note that if the process of step S16 is executed for the first time and the result of the previous comparison of the reception intensities is not stored in the storage unit 86, the process also returns to step S11.

[0112] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S17 that there is a change in the magnitude relationship of the reception strengths, the process proceeds to step S18, where the playback application refers to the content playback table stored in the storage unit 86 and specifies the playback state of the content based on the magnitude relationship of the reception strengths of the two beacon signals before and after passing the fixed point position. For example, taking the content playback table of Figure 14 as an example, if the two beacon signals are beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, and the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths a and b before passing the position is a > b and the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths a and b after passing the position is a < b, the playback state of the content is specified as follows: content 101 and content 102 are played, and content 100 and content 103 are stopped.

[0113] In step S19, the playback application controls the playback of the content in accordance with the playback state of the identified content. In the example of the content playback table in Fig. 14, if the magnitude relationship between the reception intensities a and b before passing the position is a>b and the magnitude relationship between the reception intensities a and b after passing the position is a<b, the playback of the content is controlled so that playback of the content 101 and the content 102 is started and playback of the content 100 and the content 103 is stopped.

[0114] In step S20, the playback application determines whether to terminate the application. For example, if the user performs an operation to terminate the application, the playback application determines that the application should be terminated.

[0115] If it is determined in step S20 that the application is not yet to be terminated, the process returns to step S11, and the processes of steps S11 to S20 described above are executed again.

[0116] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S20 that the application should be terminated, the process proceeds to step S21, where the playback application stops the content currently being played back and terminates the content playback process.

[0117] The content playback process using the first position detection method is executed as described above.

[0118] 10. Third Content Playback Example Next, a third content playback example will be described with reference to Fig. 18 and Fig. 19. The third content playback example is an example in which a content playback service is provided using the second position detection method.

[0119] FIG. 18 shows a service space in which a content reproduction service is provided and an example of the arrangement of beacon transmitters 13 in the third content reproduction example.

[0120] In the third content playback example, two beacon transmitters 13, beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, are placed in a service space. Fig. 18 shows the reception strength (RSSI) of the beacon signals of the beacon transmitters 13A and 13B at each position in the service space. Position 161 is a position where the sign of the time derivative (time rate of change) of the reception strength a of the beacon signal from the beacon transmitter 13A changes, and is a fixed point where the sign of the time derivative changes consistently for user terminals 12 with different reception sensitivities. Position 162 is a position where the sign of the time derivative of the reception strength b of the beacon signal from the beacon transmitter 13B changes, and is a fixed point where the sign of the time derivative changes consistently for user terminals 12 with different reception sensitivities.

[0121] FIG. 19 shows an example of a content reproduction table that is downloaded from the content server 11 to the user terminal 12X of user X and stored in the storage unit 86, corresponding to the service space of FIG.

[0122] The content playback table is a table that associates the state of the time differential of the beacon signal when passing through a fixed point with the playback state of the content. In the service space of Fig. 19, there are two fixed points, position 161 and position 162, and there are two possible directions of passing through each position, so a total of four pairs of time differential signs are associated with the content playback state. The content playback state can be either content playback or stopped.

[0123] A case will be described in which a user X moves from a position POS1 to a position POS2, passing through a position 161 and a position 162 in this order, in the service space of FIG.

[0124] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS1 is playing back content 100. The content 100 is, for example, background music.

[0125] User X moves from position POS1 toward position 161 and passes through position 161. Before passing position 161, the time derivative da / dt of reception intensity a has a positive (+) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception intensity b has a positive (+) sign. After passing position 161, the time derivative da / dt of reception intensity a has a negative (-) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception intensity b has a positive (+) sign. According to the content playback table of FIG. 19 , if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensity a and b are (+, +) before passing and (-, +) after passing, it is specified that content 101 and content 102 are played and content 100 and content 103 are stopped. After passing position 161, the playback application stops playing content 100 and plays content 101 and content 102. The content 101 is, for example, background music, and the content 102 is, for example, dialogue (voice).

[0126] If user X, who was moving from position POS1 toward position 161, makes a U-turn without passing through position 161, the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of the reception intensities a and b will be (+, +) before the U-turn and (-, -) after the U-turn, so the U-turn can also be accurately recognized.

[0127] User X then moves toward position 162 and passes through position 162. Before passing position 162, the time derivative da / dt of reception intensity a has a negative (-) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception intensity b has a positive (+) sign. After passing position 162, the time derivative da / dt of reception intensity a has a negative (-) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception intensity b has a negative (-) sign. According to the content playback table of FIG. 19, if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensity a and b are (-, +) before passing and (-, -) after passing, content 103 is played and contents 100 to 102 are stopped. After passing position 162, the playback application stops playing contents 101 and 102 and plays content 103. Content 103 is, for example, background music.

[0128] Next, a case where user X moves from position POS2 to position POS1, passing through positions 162 and 161 in this order, will be described.

[0129] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS2 is playing back the content 103.

[0130] User X moves from position POS2 toward position 162 and passes through position 162. Before passing position 162, the time derivative da / dt of reception intensity a has a positive (+) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception intensity b has a positive (+) sign. After passing position 162, the time derivative da / dt of reception intensity a has a positive (+) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception intensity b has a negative (-) sign. According to the content playback table of FIG. 19 , if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensity a and b are (+, +) before passing and (+, -) after passing, it is specified that contents 101 and 102 are played and contents 100 and 103 are stopped. After passing position 162, the playback application stops playing content 103 and plays contents 101 and 102.

[0131] User X then moves toward position 161 and passes through position 161. Before passing position 161, the time derivative da / dt of reception intensity a has a positive (+) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception intensity b has a negative (-) sign. After passing position 161, the time derivative da / dt of reception intensity a has a negative (-) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception intensity b has a negative (-) sign. According to the content playback table of FIG. 19 , if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensity a and b are (+, -) before passing and (-, -) after passing, content 100 is played and contents 101 to 103 are stopped. After passing position 161, the playback application stops playing contents 101 and 102 and plays content 100.

[0132] As described above, the playback application can control the playback and stopping of content based on the content playback table of Figure 19, which associates the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strength of the beacon signal before and after passing the fixed point position with the content playback state.

[0133] 11. Fourth Content Playback Example Next, a fourth content playback example will be described with reference to Fig. 20 and Fig. 21. The fourth content playback example is also an example in which a content playback service is provided using the second position detection method.

[0134] FIG. 20 shows a service space in which a content reproduction service is provided and an example of the arrangement of beacon transmitters 13 in the fourth content reproduction example.

[0135] In the fourth content playback example, four beacon transmitters 13, beacon transmitters 13A to 13D, are placed in a service space. Fig. 20 shows the reception strength (RSSI) of the beacon signals of the beacon transmitters 13A to 13D at each position in the service space. Position 181 is the position where the sign of the time derivative of the reception strength a of the beacon signal from beacon transmitter 13A changes, and position 182 is the position where the sign of the time derivative of the reception strength b of the beacon signal from beacon transmitter 13B changes. Position 183 is the position where the sign of the time derivative of the reception strength c of the beacon signal from beacon transmitter 13C changes, and position 184 is the position where the sign of the time derivative of the reception strength d of the beacon signal from beacon transmitter 13D changes. Positions 181 to 184 are fixed points where the sign change of the time derivative is the same for user terminals 12 with different reception sensitivities.

[0136] FIG. 21 shows an example of a content playback table that is downloaded from the content server 11 to the user terminal 12X of user X and stored in the storage unit 86, corresponding to the service space of FIG.

[0137] The content playback table is a table that associates the state of time differentiation of the beacon signal when passing through a fixed point with the playback state of the content. In the service space of Fig. 21, there are four fixed points, positions 181 to 184, and for two passing directions of the two positions, positions 181 and 184, pairs of signs of time differentiation are associated with the content playback state. The content playback state can be either a content playback or stopped state.

[0138] A case will be described in which user X moves from position POS1 to position POS2, passing through positions 181, 182, 183, and 184 in this order, in the service space of FIG.

[0139] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS1 is playing back content 100. The content 100 is, for example, background music.

[0140] User X moves from position POS1 toward position 181 and passes through position 181. Before passing position 181, the time derivative da / dt of reception intensity a has a positive (+) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception intensity b has a positive (+) sign. After passing position 181, the time derivative da / dt of reception intensity a has a negative (-) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception intensity b has a positive (+) sign. According to the content playback table of FIG. 21 , if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensity a and b are (+, +) before passing and (-, +) after passing, it is specified that content 101 and content 102 are played and content 100 and content 103 are stopped. After passing position 181, the playback application stops playing content 100 and plays content 101 and content 102. The content 101 is, for example, background music, and the content 102 is, for example, dialogue (voice).

[0141] User X then moves toward position 184 and passes through it. Before passing position 184, the time derivative dc / dt of reception intensity c has a negative (-) sign, and the time derivative dd / dt of reception intensity d has a positive (+) sign. After passing position 184, the time derivative dc / dt of reception intensity c has a negative (-) sign, and the time derivative dd / dt of reception intensity d has a negative (-) sign. According to the content playback table of FIG. 21 , if the signs of the time derivatives (dc / dt, dd / dt) of reception intensity c and d are (-, +) before passing and (-, -) after passing, content 103 is played and contents 100 to 102 are stopped. After passing position 184, the playback application stops playing contents 101 and 102 and plays content 103. Content 103 is, for example, background music.

[0142] Next, a case where user X moves from position POS2 to position POS1, passing through positions 184, 183, 182, and 181 in this order, will be described.

[0143] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS2 is playing back the content 103.

[0144] User X moves from position POS2 toward position 184 and passes through position 184. Before passing position 184, the time derivative dc / dt of reception intensity c has a positive (+) sign, and the time derivative dd / dt of reception intensity d has a positive (+) sign. After passing position 184, the time derivative dc / dt of reception intensity c has a positive (+) sign, and the time derivative dd / dt of reception intensity d has a negative (-) sign. According to the content playback table of FIG. 21 , if the signs of the time derivatives (dc / dt, dd / dt) of reception intensity c and d are (+, +) before passing and (+, -) after passing, it is specified that contents 101 and 102 are played and contents 100 and 103 are stopped. After passing position 162, the playback application stops playing content 103 and plays contents 101 and 102.

[0145] User X then moves toward position 181 and passes through it. Before passing position 181, the time derivative da / dt of reception intensity a has a positive (+) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception intensity b has a negative (-) sign. After passing position 181, the time derivative da / dt of reception intensity a has a negative (-) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception intensity b has a negative (-) sign. The content playback table in FIG. 21 specifies that if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensity a and b are (+, -) before and (-, -) after passing position 181, content 100 is played and contents 101 to 103 are stopped. After passing position 181, the playback application stops playing contents 101 and 102 and plays content 100.

[0146] As described above, the content playback table of Figure 21 can be created by arbitrarily selecting some of the positions of multiple fixed points, and the playback application can control the playback and stopping of content based on the content playback table of Figure 21, which associates the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strength of the beacon signal before and after passing the position of the fixed point with the content playback state.

[0147] 12. Content Playback Processing Using the Second Position Detection Method Next, the content playback processing using the second position detection method will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 22. This processing is started, for example, after a playback application is launched on the user terminal 12X and content that was preset at the time of launching the playback application is played. It is assumed that a content playback table corresponding to the service space in which the content playback service is provided has already been acquired and stored in the storage unit 86.

[0148] First, in step S41, the playback application of the user terminal 12X determines whether two beacon signals with different beacon IDs have been detected, and repeats the processing of step S41 until it is determined that two beacon signals have been detected.

[0149] If it is determined in step S41 that two beacon signals have been detected, the processes of steps S42 to S44 and the processes of steps S45 to S47 are executed in parallel.

[0150] If the two beacon signals with different beacon IDs detected in step S41 are a first beacon signal and a second beacon signal, the playback application detects the reception strength of the first beacon signal in step S42, and then executes a noise reduction filter to remove noise from the first beacon signal in step S43. Subsequently, in step S44, the playback application stores the detected reception strength of the first beacon signal in the storage unit 86 for the next comparison, and calculates the sign of the time derivative of the reception strength of the first beacon signal using the previous reception strength and the current reception strength stored in the storage unit 86. Furthermore, in step S45, the playback application detects the reception strength of the second beacon signal, and then executes a noise reduction filter to remove noise from the second beacon signal in step S46. Next, in step S47, the playback application stores the detected reception strength of the second beacon signal in the memory unit 86 for the next measurement, and calculates the sign of the time derivative of the reception strength of the second beacon signal using the previous reception strength and the current reception strength stored in the memory unit 86. As the noise reduction filter in steps S43 and S46, for example, a Kalman filter, a low-pass filter, or the like can be used. Furthermore, one type of noise reduction filter may be configured to cut off the beacon signal if the signal strength of at least one of the first and second beacon signals is weak and less than a predetermined value (e.g., −55 dBm), thereby preventing the processing from step S47 onward. In this case, the processing returns to step S41.

[0151] After step S44 or step S47, in step S48, the playback application obtains a pair of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strengths of the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal, and stores them in the storage unit 86. The pair of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strengths stored in the storage unit 86 is used in the next process of step S49.

[0152] In step S49, the playback application compares the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strengths of the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal obtained in step S48 with the set of signs of the time derivatives of the previous reception strengths stored in the memory unit 86, and determines whether there has been a change in the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strengths.

[0153] If it is determined in step S49 that there is no change in the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception intensity, the process returns to step S41, and the processes of steps S41 to S49 described above are repeated. Note that if the process of step S48 is executed for the first time and the previous set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception intensity is not stored in the storage unit 86, the process also returns to step S41.

[0154] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S49 that there is a change in the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strength, the process proceeds to step S50, where the playback application refers to the content playback table stored in storage unit 86 and identifies the content playback state based on the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strength of the two beacon signals before and after passing the fixed point position. For example, taking the content playback table of Figure 19 as an example, if the two beacon signals are beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, and the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strengths a and b before passing the position is (+, +), and the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strengths a and b after passing the position is (-, +), the content playback state is identified as follows: content 101 and content 102 are played, and content 100 and content 103 are stopped.

[0155] In step S51, the playback application controls the playback of the content in accordance with the playback state of the identified content. In the example of the content playback table in Fig. 19, if the pair of signs of the time differentials of the reception intensities a and b before passing the position is (+, +) and the pair of signs of the time differentials of the reception intensities a and b after passing the position is (-, +), the playback of the content is controlled so that the playback of the content 101 and the content 102 is started and the playback of the content 100 and the content 103 is stopped.

[0156] In step S52, the playback application determines whether to terminate the application. For example, if the user performs an operation to terminate the application, the playback application determines that the application should be terminated.

[0157] If it is determined in step S52 that the application is not yet to be terminated, the process returns to step S41, and the processes of steps S41 to S52 described above are executed again.

[0158] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S52 that the application should be terminated, the process proceeds to step S53, where the playback application stops the content currently being played back and terminates the content playback process.

[0159] The content playback process using the second position detection method is executed as described above.

[0160] 13. Fifth Example of Content Playback Next, a fifth example of content playback will be described with reference to FIGS. 23 and 24. FIG.

[0161] The fifth content playback example of Figures 23 and 24 is a modification of the fourth content playback example described with reference to Figures 20 and 21, and is an example in which a content playback service is provided using the second position detection method.

[0162] FIG. 23 shows an example of the arrangement of the service space and the beacon transmitters 13 in the fifth content reproduction example.

[0163] 20 and 21, only two fixed points, positions 181 and 184, are used out of the four fixed points, positions 181 to 184. In the fifth content playback example in Figures 23 and 24, four fixed points are used to play back content, and the playback application uses the first of two adjacent fixed points that is passed through as a trigger to prepare (preload) for playing back content, and plays back the prepared content at the next fixed point that is passed through.

[0164] For example, when user X moves from position POS1 to position POS2, preparations for playing contents 101 and 102 are made at position 181, and contents 101 and 102 are played at position 182. The preparations for playing contents 101 and 102 are preloads in which the content data of contents 101 and 102 is loaded into memory in advance.

[0165] FIG. 24 shows an example of a preload table and a content playback table that are downloaded from the content server 11 to the user terminal 12X of user X and stored in the storage unit 86, corresponding to the service space of FIG.

[0166] The preload table is a table that associates pairs of time differential signs of a beacon signal when passing through a fixed point position with loads (preloads) for content playback. The preload table associates pairs of time differential signs with preloads for two locations, positions 181 and 183, in the direction from position POS1 to position POS2, and two locations, positions 184 and 182, in the direction from position POS2 to position POS1.

[0167] On the other hand, the content playback table associates pairs of time differential signs with content playback states for two locations, positions 182 and 184, in the direction from position POS1 to position POS2, and two locations, positions 183 and 181, in the direction from position POS2 to position POS1.

[0168] A case will be described in which user X moves from position POS1 to position POS2, passing through positions 181, 182, 183, and 184 in this order, in the service space of FIG.

[0169] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS1 is playing back content 100. The content 100 is, for example, background music.

[0170] User X moves from position POS1 toward position 181 and passes through position 181. The sign set of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b before passing through position 181 is (+, +), and the sign set after passing through position 181 is (-, +). According to the preload table of FIG. 24 , if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b are (+, +) before passing through and (-, +) after passing through, it is specified that content 101 and content 102 are loaded (preloaded). After passing through position 181, the playback application loads (preloads) content 101 and content 102.

[0171] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 182 and passes through position 182. The sign set of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b before passing position 182 is (-, +), and the sign set after passing is (-, -). According to the content playback table of FIG. 24, when the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b are (-, +) before passing and (-, -) after passing, it is specified that content 101 and content 102 are played and content 100 and content 103 are stopped. After passing position 182, the playback application stops playing content 100 and plays preloaded content 101 and content 102. Content 101 is, for example, background music, and content 102 is, for example, dialogue (audio).

[0172] User X moves toward and passes through position 183. The sign set of the time derivatives (dc / dt, dd / dt) of reception intensities c and d before passing through position 183 is (+, +), and the sign set of the time derivatives (dc / dt, dd / dt) after passing through position 183 is (-, +). The preload table of FIG. 24 specifies that content 103 should be loaded if the signs of the time derivatives (dc / dt, dd / dt) of reception intensities c and d are (+, +) before passing through and (-, +) after passing through. The playback application loads content 103 after passing through position 183.

[0173] User X then moves toward and passes through position 184. The sign set of the time derivatives (dc / dt, dd / dt) of reception intensities c and d before passing position 184 is (-, +), and the sign set after passing is (-, -). According to the content playback table of FIG. 24 , if the signs of the time derivatives (dc / dt, dd / dt) of reception intensities c and d are (-, +) before passing and (-, -) after passing, content 103 is played and contents 100 to 102 are stopped. After passing position 184, the playback application stops playing contents 101 and 102 and plays preloaded content 103. Content 103 is, for example, background music.

[0174] Next, a case where user X moves from position POS2 to position POS1, passing through positions 184, 183, 182, and 181 in this order, will be described.

[0175] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS2 is playing back the content 103.

[0176] User X moves from position POS2 toward position 184 and passes through position 184. The sign set of the time derivatives (dc / dt, dd / dt) of reception intensities c and d before passing position 184 is (+, +), and the sign set of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) after passing position 184 is (+, -). According to the preload table of FIG. 24 , if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b are (+, +) before passing and (+, -) after passing, it is specified that content 101 and content 102 are to be loaded. After passing position 184, the playback application loads content 101 and content 102.

[0177] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 183 and passes through position 183. The sign set of the time derivatives (dc / dt, dd / dt) of reception intensities c and d before passing position 183 is (+, -), and the sign set after passing is (-, -). According to the content playback table of FIG. 24 , if the signs of the time derivatives (dc / dt, dd / dt) of reception intensities c and d are (+, -) before passing and (-, -) after passing, it is specified that content 101 and content 102 are played and content 100 and content 103 are stopped. After passing position 183, the playback application stops playing content 103 and plays preloaded content 101 and content 102.

[0178] User X moves toward and passes through position 182. The sign set of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b before passing position 183 is (+, +), and the sign set of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) after passing position 183 is (+, -). The preload table of FIG. 24 specifies that content 100 should be loaded if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b are (+, +) before passing and (+, -) after passing position 183. The playback application loads content 100 after passing position 183.

[0179] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 181 and passes through position 181. The sign set of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b before passing position 181 is (+, -), and the sign set after passing is (-, -). According to the content playback table of FIG. 24, if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b are (+, -) before passing and (-, -) after passing, it is specified that content 100 is played and contents 101 to 103 are stopped. After passing position 181, the playback application stops playing contents 101 and 102 and plays preloaded content 100.

[0180] As described above, the content to be played can be prepared in advance (preloaded) using a preload table that associates a set of codes of the time differential of the reception strength of the beacon signal before and after passing the fixed point position with the content playback state. Furthermore, the playback of the preloaded content can be controlled based on the content playback table.

[0181] Note that two adjacent fixed points can also be used in other ways. For example, of the two adjacent fixed points, content may be played back at the first fixed point that is passed through, and the second fixed point that is passed through may be used as a trigger for playing back backup content in case the content cannot be played back at the first fixed point. Specifically, the content playback table may be configured so that, when user X moves from position POS1 to position POS2 and passes position 181, content 101 and content 102 are scheduled to be played back, but are unable to be played back, content 101 and content 102 are played back when user X passes position 182.

[0182] 14. Sixth Example of Content Playback Next, a sixth example of content playback will be described with reference to Fig. 25 and Fig. 26. The sixth example of content playback is an example in which a content playback service is provided using both the first position detection method and the second position detection method.

[0183] FIG. 25 shows a service space in which a content reproduction service is provided and an example of the arrangement of beacon transmitters 13 in the sixth content reproduction example.

[0184] In the sixth content playback example, two beacon transmitters 13, beacon transmitters 13A and 13B, are placed in a service space. FIG. 25 shows the reception strength (RSSI) of the beacon signals of the beacon transmitters 13A and 13B at each position in the service space. Position 201 is a position where the sign of the time derivative of the reception strength a of the beacon signal from the beacon transmitter 13A changes. Position 202 is a position where the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths a and b of the two beacon signals from the beacon transmitters 13A and 13B changes. Position 203 is a position where the sign of the time derivative of the reception strength b of the beacon signal from the beacon transmitter 13B changes. Positions 201 to 203 are all fixed points that do not depend on the difference in reception sensitivity of the user terminals 12.

[0185] FIG. 26 shows an example of a content playback table that is downloaded from the content server 11 to the user terminal 12X of user X and stored in the storage unit 86, corresponding to the service space of FIG.

[0186] The content playback table is a table that associates the reception strength and time differential of the beacon signal when passing through a fixed point with the playback state of the content. In the service space of Fig. 25, there are three fixed points, positions 201 to 203, and there are two possible directions of passing through each position, so a total of six sets of reception strength and time differential signs are associated with the content playback state. The content playback state can be either content playback or stopped.

[0187] First, a case will be described in which user X moves from position POS1 to position POS2, passing through positions 201, 202, and 203 in this order in the service space of FIG.

[0188] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS1 is playing back content 101. The content 101 is, for example, background music.

[0189] User X moves from position POS1 toward position 201 and passes through position 201. The sign pair of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b before passing position 201 is (+, +), and the sign pair after passing position 201 is (-, +). The magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing position 201 is a>b, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b after passing position 201 is a>b. According to the content playback table of FIG. 26 , if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b are (+, +) before passing position 201 and (-, +) after passing position 201, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b is a>b before and after passing position 201, content 102 is played and contents 101, 103, and 104 are stopped. After passing position 201, the playback application stops playing content 101 and plays content 102. The content 102 is, for example, dialogue (voice).

[0190] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 202 and passes through position 202. The sign pair of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b before passing position 202 is (-, +), and the sign pair after passing position 202 is (-, +). The magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing position 202 is a>b, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b after passing position 202 is a<b. According to the content playback table of FIG. 26 , if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b are (-, +) before and after passing position 202, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing position 202 is a>b and a<b after passing position 202, content 103 is played and contents 101, 102, and 104 are stopped. After passing position 202, the playback application stops playing content 102 and plays content 103. Content 103 is, for example, dialogue (voice).

[0191] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 203 and passes through position 203. The sign pair of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b before passing position 203 is (-, +), and the sign pair after passing is (-, -). The magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing position 203 is a<b, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b after passing position 203 is a<b. According to the content playback table of FIG. 26 , if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b are (-, +) before passing and (-, -) after passing, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b is a<b before and after passing, content 104 is played and contents 101 to 103 are stopped. After passing position 203, the playback application stops playing content 103 and plays content 104. Content 104 is, for example, dialogue (voice).

[0192] Next, a case where user X moves from position POS2 to position POS1, passing through positions 203, 202, and 201 in this order, will be described.

[0193] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS2 is playing back the content 104.

[0194] User X moves from position POS2 toward position 203 and passes through position 203. The sign pair of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b before passing position 203 is (+, +), and the sign pair after passing position 203 is (+, -). The magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing position 203 is a<b, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b after passing position 203 is a<b. According to the content playback table of FIG. 26 , if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b are (+, +) before passing position 203 and (+, -) after passing position 203, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b is a<b before and after passing position 203, content 103 is played and contents 101, 102, and 104 are stopped. After passing position 203, the playback application stops playing content 104 and plays content 103.

[0195] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 202 and passes through position 202. The sign pair of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b before passing position 202 is (+, -), and the sign pair after passing position 202 is (+, -). The magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing position 202 is a<b, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b after passing position 202 is a>b. According to the content playback table of FIG. 26 , if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b are (+, -) before and after passing position 202, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing position 202 is a<b, and a>b after passing position 202, content 102 is played and contents 101, 103, and 104 are stopped. After passing position 202, the playback application stops playing content 103 and plays content 102.

[0196] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 201 and passes through position 201. The sign pair of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b before passing through position 201 is (+, -), and the sign pair after passing through position 201 is (-, -). The magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing through position 201 is a>b, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b after passing through position 201 is a>b. According to the content playback table of FIG. 26 , if the signs of the time derivatives (da / dt, db / dt) of reception intensities a and b are (+, -) before passing through and (-, -) after passing through, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b is a>b before and after passing through, content 101 is played back and contents 102 to 104 are stopped. After passing through position 201, the playback application stops playing content 102 and plays content 101.

[0197] As described above, the playback application can control the playback and stopping of content based on the content playback table of Figure 26, which associates the relationship between the magnitude of the reception strength of the beacon signal before and after passing the fixed point position and the set of signs of the time derivative with the content playback state.

[0198] 15. Example of Setting Content Reproduction Space In each of the content reproduction examples described above, the examples have been shown in which the plurality of beacon transmitters 13 arranged in the service space each output a beacon signal with a different beacon ID.

[0199] By arranging a plurality of beacon transmitters 13 that output beacon signals with the same beacon ID in the service space, the service space can be spatially set.

[0200] FIG. 27 is a plan view showing an example in which a service space in which the planar direction is distinguished is set by arranging a plurality of beacon transmitters 13 with the same beacon ID.

[0201] FIG. 27A is a plan view showing an example in which a space 251 and a space 252 that are separated in the planar direction are formed by arranging a plurality of beacon transmitters 13 with the same beacon ID.

[0202] For example, a plurality of beacon transmitters 13, each outputting a beacon signal with a first beacon ID, are placed in a space 251. A plurality of beacon transmitters 13, each outputting a beacon signal with a second beacon ID, are placed in a space 252. The first beacon ID and the second beacon ID are different beacon IDs. The space 251 is a content playback space for playing back a first content, and the space 252 is a content playback space for playing back a second content that is different from the first content. The position connecting the fixed points of the first beacon ID and the second beacon ID is the boundary between the spaces 251 and 252, and the content being played back by the user terminal 12 is switched by the user's movement of the arrow passing through the boundary.

[0203] FIG. 27B is a plan view showing an example in which spaces 253 and 253 that are distinguished in the planar direction are formed by arranging a plurality of beacon transmitters 13 with the same beacon ID.

[0204] For example, one or more beacon transmitters 13, each outputting a beacon signal with a first beacon ID, are placed in space 253. A plurality of beacon transmitters 13, each outputting a beacon signal with a second beacon ID, are placed in space 254. Space 253 is a content playback space for playing back a first content, and space 254 is a content playback space for playing back a second content different from the first content. The position connecting the fixed points of the first beacon ID and the second beacon ID is the boundary between space 253 and space 254, and the content being played back by the user terminal 12 is switched by the user's movement of the arrow passing through the boundary.

[0205] FIG. 27C is a plan view showing an example in which a space 255 and a space 256 that are distinguished in the planar direction are formed by arranging a plurality of beacon transmitters 13 with the same beacon ID.

[0206] For example, one or more beacon transmitters 13, each outputting a beacon signal with a first beacon ID, are placed in space 255. A plurality of beacon transmitters 13, each outputting a beacon signal with a second beacon ID, are placed in space 256. Space 255 is a content playback space for playing back a first content, and space 256 is a content playback space for playing back a second content different from the first content. The position connecting the fixed points of the first beacon ID and the second beacon ID is the boundary between space 255 and space 256, and the content being played back by the user terminal 12 is switched by the user's movement of the arrow passing through the boundary.

[0207] By changing the location and number of beacon transmitters 13, any content playback space can be created, as shown in B and C in FIG.

[0208] Furthermore, content playback spaces for playing different contents can be distinguished not only horizontally but also vertically. In the example of Fig. 28, spaces 261 and 262 are formed, which are distinguished not only horizontally but also vertically. This enables playback control such that, for example, when a user changes from a standing position to a crouching position, the movement from space 262 to space 261 is detected and a first content is played, and when the user stands up, the movement from space 261 to space 262 is detected and a second content is played.

[0209] 16. Seventh Content Playback Example In the content playback space setting examples shown in B and C of FIG. 27, no distinction is made as to which direction the user enters the grayed-out inner space 253 or space 255.

[0210] However, it is also possible to control the content to be reproduced so as to change the content depending on the route taken when entering the content reproduction space.

[0211] A seventh content playback example will be described with reference to Figures 29 to 31. The seventh content playback example is a playback control example in which control is performed to play different content depending on the route taken when entering a predetermined content playback space.

[0212] FIG. 29 shows a service space in which a content playback service is provided in the seventh content playback example.

[0213] Five paths 282, paths 282A to 282E, are set in a content playback space 281 in which predetermined content is played back. The content playback space 281 is, for example, a single room, and the paths 282A to 282E each have a door for entering the content playback space 281. For example, beacon transmitters 13 are placed inside and outside each of the paths 282A to 282E, and output beacon signals with different beacon IDs. The user terminal 12 can identify the passing position and passing direction of any of the paths 282A to 282E using the first position detection method or the second position detection method. There are two passing directions for each path 282: from the inside to the outside of the content playback space 281, or from the outside to the inside.

[0214] FIG. 30 shows an example of a content reproduction table set in correspondence with the service space of FIG.

[0215] 30, when a user carrying the user terminal 12 moves out (Aout) from the content playback space 281 using the route 282A, the content 101 is played. When the user moves out (Bout) from the content playback space 281 using the route 282B, the content 102 is played. Similarly, when the user moves out (Cout, Dout, Eout) from the content playback space 281 using the routes 282C, 282D, and 282E, the contents 103, 104, and 105 are played, respectively.

[0216] Furthermore, according to the content playback table of FIG. 30, when the user moves from outside to inside the content playback space 281 using any of the routes 282A to 282E, the content 100 is played back, but the playback application can make this content 100 different depending on the history of the route 282 taken when entering the content playback space 281 in the past.

[0217] FIG. 31 is a flowchart of a content playback control process for controlling the content 100 to be played back in the content playback space 281.

[0218] 29 is a space in which a predetermined mission (e.g., a quiz) is performed, and the playback content when entering the content playback space 281 is changed based on the history of movement outside the content playback space 281. For simplicity, the following description will be given by describing the outside of path 282A as Aout, the inside as Ain, the outside of path 282B as Bout and the inside as Bin, the outside of path 282C as Cout and the inside as Cin, the outside of path 282D as Dout and the inside as Din, and the outside of path 282E as Eout and the inside as Ein.

[0219] For example, when the user performs an operation to start a mission using the playback application of the user terminal 12, the content playback control process of FIG. 31 starts.

[0220] First, in step S101, the playback application determines whether it has detected the user's entry into the content playback space 281 via Ain to Ein, i.e., any of the routes 282A to 282E, and repeats the processing of step S101 until it determines that the entry has been detected.

[0221] If it is determined in step S101 that entry into the content playback space 281 along any of the routes 282A to 282E has been detected, the process proceeds to step S102, where the playback application checks the user's visit history of Aout to Eout. If the user has visited Aout to Eout in the past, the playback application is configured to store the history in the storage unit 86.

[0222] In step S103, the playback application determines whether the user has already visited Cout. If it is determined in step S103 that the user has already visited Cout, the process proceeds to step S104, where the playback application plays back the content for which the mission has been completed. After the process of step S104, the content playback control process ends.

[0223] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S103 that the user has not visited Cout, the process proceeds to step S105, where the playback application determines whether the user has visited Aout or Bout.

[0224] If it is determined in step S105 that the user has already visited Aout or Bout, the process proceeds to step S106, where the playback application plays content that guides the user to Cout. After step S106, the process returns to step S101.

[0225] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S105 that the user has not visited either Aout or Bout, the process proceeds to step S107, where the playback application determines whether the user has visited Dout or Eout.

[0226] If it is determined in step S107 that the user has already visited Dout or Eout, the process proceeds to step S108, where the playback application plays content that guides the user to Aout. After step S108, the process returns to step S101.

[0227] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S107 that the user has not visited either Dout or Eout, the process proceeds to step S109, where the playback application plays back the content for starting the mission. After step S109, the process returns to step S101.

[0228] As described above, when a user enters the content playback space 281, the content 100 to be played back upon entering the content playback space 281 can be changed to mission start content, content guiding to Aout, content guiding to Cout, or mission completion content depending on which of Aout to Eout the user has visited in the past. In other words, the content 100 to be played back can be changed depending on which path 282 the user takes to enter the content playback space 281. Similarly, it is also possible to change the content to be played back outside depending on which path 282 the user takes to exit the content playback space 281.

[0229] [Second Embodiment of Content Reproduction System] Next, a second embodiment of the content reproduction system will be described.

[0230] The content playback system 1 of the first embodiment described above is configured such that beacon transmitters 13 that transmit beacon signals are placed in each predetermined area of ​​the service space where the content playback service is provided, and the user terminals 12 receive the beacon signals from the beacon transmitters 13.

[0231] The second embodiment described below has a configuration in which the relationship between the transmitter and receiver of the beacon signal is reversed: that is, in the second embodiment, the user terminal 12 transmits the beacon signal, and a receiver located in the service space receives the beacon signal from the user terminal 12.

[0232] 17. Eighth Content Playback Example Next, an eighth content playback example will be described with reference to Fig. 32 to Fig. 34. The eighth content playback example is an example in which a content playback service is provided using the first position detection method.

[0233] FIG. 32 shows a service space in which a content playback service is provided and an example of the placement of receivers 301 in the eighth content playback example.

[0234] In the eighth content playback example, four receivers 301, receivers 301A to 301D, are placed in a service space. Fig. 32 shows the reception strength (RSSI) of the beacon signal for each of receivers 301A to 301D at each position in the service space. Position 321 is a fixed point and is a position where the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths a and b of the beacon signal from user terminal 12X received by receivers 301A and 301B changes. Position 322 is a fixed point and is a position where the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths c and d of the beacon signal received by receivers 301C and 301D changes.

[0235] Fig. 33 shows an example of a content playback table that associates the state of reception strength of a beacon signal when passing through a fixed point with the playback state of content, and is stored in the storage unit 72 of the content server 11, corresponding to the service space of Fig. 32. The content playback table of Fig. 33 is similar to the content playback table of Fig. 14 shown in the first content playback example.

[0236] When each receiver 301 detects a beacon signal transmitted from the user terminal 12X of user X, it detects the UUID and reception strength of the received beacon signal and transmits them to the content server 11 via the network 14. The UUID is user identification information assigned to each user in the playback application and is identification information that individually identifies each user terminal 12. The content server 11 stores the UUID and reception strength of each user terminal 12 transmitted from each receiver 301.

[0237] FIG. 34 shows an example of a database of UUIDs of the user terminals 12 transmitted from each receiver 301, stored in the storage unit 72 of the content server 11.

[0238] The content server 11 compares the reception strength of the same UUID transmitted from the two receivers 301 forming the fixed point position 321 or 322, and identifies the content playback state. The content server 11 transmits an instruction to play or stop the content (hereinafter referred to as a content playback state instruction) to the user terminal 12X via the network 14, depending on the identified content playback state. The user terminal 12X plays or stops the specified content based on the content playback state instruction from the content server 11.

[0239] A case will be described in which a user X moves from a position POS1 to a position POS2, passing through a position 321 and a position 322 in this order, in the service space of FIG.

[0240] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS1 is playing back content 100. The content 100 is, for example, background music.

[0241] User X moves from position POS1 toward position 321 and passes through position 321. The content server 11 compares the reception strength of the UUID of user terminal 12X transmitted from receivers 301A and 301B. The magnitude relationship between reception strengths a and b before passing position 321 is a>b, and the magnitude relationship between reception strengths a and b after passing position 321 is a<b. After passing fixed point position 321, the content server 11 generates a content playback state instruction to stop playback of content 100 and play contents 101 and 102 based on the content playback table of FIG. 33 and transmits the instruction to the playback application of user terminal 12X via network 14. The playback application of user terminal 12X receives the content playback state instruction from the content server 11 and, based on the content playback state instruction, stops playback of content 100 and plays contents 101 and 102. The content 101 is, for example, background music, and the content 102 is, for example, dialogue (voice).

[0242] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 322 and passes through position 322. The magnitude relationship between reception intensities c and d before passing position 322 is c>d, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities c and d after passing position 322 is c<d. After passing fixed point position 322, content server 11 generates a content playback state instruction to stop playback of contents 101 and 102 and play content 103 based on the content playback table of FIG. 33, and transmits the instruction to the playback application of user terminal 12X via network 14. Based on the content playback state instruction from content server 11, the playback application of user terminal 12X stops playback of contents 101 and 102 and plays content 103. Content 103 is, for example, background music.

[0243] Next, a case where user X moves from position POS2 to position POS1, passing through positions 322 and 321 in this order, will be described.

[0244] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS2 is playing back the content 103.

[0245] User X moves from position POS2 toward position 322 and passes through position 322. The magnitude relationship between reception intensities c and d before passing position 322 is c<d, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities c and d after passing position 322 is c>d. After passing fixed point position 322, content server 11 generates a content playback state instruction to stop playback of content 103 and play contents 101 and 102 based on the content playback table of FIG. 33 and transmits the instruction to the playback application of user terminal 12X via network 14. After passing position 322, the playback application of user terminal 12X stops playback of content 103 and plays contents 101 and 102.

[0246] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 321 and passes through position 321. The magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b before passing position 321 is a<b, and the magnitude relationship between reception intensities a and b after passing position 321 is a>b. After passing fixed point position 321, content server 11 generates a content playback state instruction to stop playback of contents 101 and 102 and play content 100 based on the content playback table of FIG. 33, and transmits this to the playback application of user terminal 12X via network 14. After passing position 321, the playback application of user terminal 12X stops playback of contents 101 and 102 and plays content 100.

[0247] As described above, the content server 11 acquires and compares the reception strength of beacon signals from the same user (i.e., with the same UUID) received by two receivers 301, and can control playback and stopping of content executed by the user's playback application based on the content playback table of Figure 33.

[0248] 35, a content playback process using the first position detection method will be described in which the user terminal 12X transmits a beacon signal and the receiver 301 receives the signal. This process is initiated, for example, after a playback application is launched in the user terminal 12X and content that was previously set when the playback application was launched is played. It is assumed that content data corresponding to the service space has already been acquired and stored in the storage unit 86 of the user terminal 12X.

[0249] First, in step S151, each receiver 301 located within the service space detects a beacon signal transmitted from a user terminal 12X and detects the UUID and reception strength. Each receiver 301 transmits the detected UUID and reception strength to the content server 11 via the network 14.

[0250] In step S152, the content server 11 receives the UUID and reception strength transmitted from each receiver 301, and determines whether a beacon signal with the same UUID has been detected in two receivers 301 that form the position of the fixed point.

[0251] If it is determined in step S152 that the two receivers 301 forming the fixed point position have not detected a beacon signal with the same UUID, the process returns to step S151, whereby the above-described steps S151 and S152 are repeated.

[0252] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S152 that beacon signals with the same UUID have been detected by the two receivers 301 that form the position of the fixed point, the process proceeds to step S153. The two beacon signals with the same UUID received by the two receivers 301 that form the position of the fixed point are designated as a first beacon signal and a second beacon signal. In step S153, the content server 11 executes a noise reduction filter to remove noise from the first and second beacon signals. The noise reduction filter process here is the same as in the example described above.

[0253] In step S154, the content server 11 compares the reception strength of the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal having the same UUID, and stores the comparison result in the storage unit 72. The comparison result of the reception strength stored in the storage unit 72 is used in the next processing of step S155.

[0254] In step S155, the content server 11 compares the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths of the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal obtained in step S154 with the previous comparison result of the reception strengths stored in the memory unit 72, and determines whether there has been a change in the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths.

[0255] If it is determined in step S155 that there is no change in the magnitude relationship of the reception strengths, the process returns to step S151, and the processes of steps S151 to S155 described above are repeated. Note that if the process of step S155 is executed for the first time and the previous comparison result of the reception strengths is not stored in the storage unit 72, the process also returns to step S151.

[0256] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S155 that there is a change in the magnitude relationship of the reception strengths, the process proceeds to step S156, and the content server 11 refers to the content playback table stored in the storage unit 72 and specifies the content playback state based on the magnitude relationship of the reception strengths of the two beacon signals before and after passing the fixed point position. For example, using the content playback table of Figure 33 as an example, if the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths a and b of the two beacon signals of user X's UUID received by receivers 301A and 301B before passing position 321 is a > b and the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths a and b after passing position 321 is a < b, the content playback state is specified as follows: content 101 and content 102 are played and content 100 and content 103 are stopped.

[0257] In step S157, the content server 11 generates a content playback state instruction to play or stop the content according to the playback state of the identified content.

[0258] In step S158, the content server 11 transmits the generated content playback state instruction via the network 14 to the playback application of the user terminal 12X corresponding to the UUID.

[0259] In step S159, the playback application of the user terminal 12X receives the content playback state instruction from the content server 11 and executes content playback processing based on the content playback state instruction. In the example of the content playback table in Fig. 33, if the magnitude relationship between the reception intensities a and b before passing the position is a > b and the magnitude relationship between the reception intensities a and b after passing the position is a < b, playback of the contents 101 and 102 starts, and playback of the contents 100 and 103 stops.

[0260] In step S160, the playback application determines whether to terminate the application. For example, if the user performs an operation to terminate the application, the playback application determines that the application should be terminated.

[0261] If it is determined in step S160 that the application is not yet to be terminated, the process returns to step S151, and the processes of steps S151 to S160 described above are executed again.

[0262] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S160 that the application should be terminated, the process proceeds to step S161, where the playback application stops the content currently being played back and terminates the content playback process.

[0263] The content playback process according to the first position detection method when the user terminal 12X transmits a beacon signal and the receiver 301 receives the signal is executed as described above.

[0264] 19. Ninth Content Playback Example Next, a ninth content playback example will be described with reference to Figures 36 and 37. The ninth content playback example is an example in which a content playback service is provided using the second position detection method.

[0265] FIG. 36 shows a service space in which a content playback service is provided and an example of the placement of receivers 301 in the ninth content playback example.

[0266] In the ninth content playback example, four receivers 301, receivers 301A to 301D, are placed in a service space. FIG. 36 shows the reception strength (RSSI) of the beacon signal for each of the receivers 301A to 301D at each position in the service space. Position 341 is a fixed point and is a position where the sign of the time derivative (time rate of change) of the reception strength a of the beacon signal from the user terminal 12X received by the receiver 301A changes. Position 342 is a fixed point and is a position where the sign of the time derivative (time rate of change) of the reception strength b of the beacon signal from the user terminal 12X received by the receiver 301B changes. Positions 343 and 344 are fixed points of the time derivatives (time rate of change) of the reception strength c and d of the user terminal 12X received by the receivers 301C and 301D.

[0267] Fig. 37 shows an example of a content playback table that corresponds to the service space of Fig. 36 and is stored in the storage unit 72 of the content server 11, and shows the time differential state of the beacon signal when passing through the fixed point position and the playback state of the content. The content playback table of Fig. 37 is similar to the content playback table of Fig. 21 shown in the fourth content playback example. The content playback table of Fig. 37 associates pairs of signs of the time differential with the content playback state for two passing directions of two positions, 341 and 344, out of four fixed point positions 341 to 344.

[0268] When each receiver 301 detects a beacon signal transmitted from user terminal 12X of user X, it detects the UUID and reception strength of the received beacon signal and transmits them to content server 11 via network 14. Content server 11 stores the UUID and reception strength of user terminal 12 transmitted from each receiver 301.

[0269] The content server 11 then compares the signs of the time derivatives da / dt and db / dt of the reception intensities a and b of the same UUID transmitted from the two receivers 301A and 301B that form the fixed point position 341 to identify the content playback state. The content server 11 also compares the signs of the time derivatives dc / dt and dd / dt of the reception intensities c and d of the same UUID transmitted from the two receivers 301C and 301D that form the fixed point position 344 to identify the content playback state. The content server 11 generates a content playback state instruction in accordance with the identified content playback state and transmits it to the user terminal 12X via the network 14. The user terminal 12X plays or stops the specified content based on the content playback state instruction from the content server 11.

[0270] A case will be described in which user X moves from position POS1 to position POS2, passing through positions 341, 342, 343, and 344 in this order, in the service space of FIG.

[0271] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS1 is playing back content 100. The content 100 is, for example, background music.

[0272] User X moves from position POS1 toward position 341 and passes through position 341. The content server 11 detects the sign of the time derivative of the reception strength of the UUID of user terminal 12X transmitted from receivers 301A and 301B. Before passing position 341, the time derivative da / dt of reception strength a has a positive (+) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception strength b has a positive (+) sign. After passing position 341, the time derivative da / dt of reception strength a has a negative (-) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception strength b has a positive (+) sign. After passing position 341, the content server 11 stops playback of content 100 and generates a content playback state instruction to play contents 101 and 102 based on the content playback table of FIG. 37 , and transmits the instruction to the playback application of user terminal 12X via network 14. The playback application of the user terminal 12X receives a content playback state instruction from the content server 11, and based on the content playback state instruction, stops playback of the content 100 and plays the contents 101 and 102. The content 101 is, for example, background music, and the content 102 is, for example, dialogue (voice).

[0273] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 344 and passes through position 344. Before passing position 344, the time derivative dc / dt of reception intensity c has a negative (-) sign, and the time derivative dd / dt of reception intensity d has a positive (+) sign. After passing position 344, the time derivative dc / dt of reception intensity c has a negative (-) sign, and the time derivative dd / dt of reception intensity d has a negative (-) sign. After passing position 344, which is a fixed point, content server 11 generates a content playback state instruction to stop playback of contents 101 and 102 and play content 103 based on the content playback table of FIG. 37 and transmits the instruction to the playback application of user terminal 12X via network 14. Based on the content playback state instruction from content server 11, the playback application of user terminal 12X stops playback of contents 101 and 102 and plays content 103. Content 103 is, for example, background music.

[0274] Next, a case where user X moves from position POS2 to position POS1, passing through positions 344, 343, 342, and 341 in this order, will be described.

[0275] The playback application of the user terminal 12X located at position POS2 is playing back the content 103.

[0276] User X moves from position POS2 toward position 344 and passes through position 344. Before passing position 344, the time derivative dc / dt of reception intensity c has a positive (+) sign, and the time derivative dd / dt of reception intensity d has a positive (+) sign. After passing position 344, the time derivative dc / dt of reception intensity c has a positive (+) sign, and the time derivative dd / dt of reception intensity d has a negative (-) sign. After passing position 344, which is a fixed point, content server 11 generates a content playback state instruction to stop playback of content 103 and play contents 101 and 102 based on the content playback table of FIG. 37 and transmits the instruction to the playback application of user terminal 12X via network 14. After passing position 344, the playback application of user terminal 12X stops playback of content 103 and plays contents 101 and 102.

[0277] Thereafter, user X moves toward position 341 and passes through position 341. Before passing position 341, the time derivative da / dt of reception intensity a has a positive (+) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception intensity b has a negative (-) sign. After passing position 341, the time derivative da / dt of reception intensity a has a negative (-) sign, and the time derivative db / dt of reception intensity b has a negative (-) sign. After passing position 341, which is a fixed point, content server 11 generates a content playback state instruction to stop playback of contents 101 and 102 and play content 100 based on the content playback table of FIG. 37 and transmits the instruction to the playback application of user terminal 12X via network 14. After passing position 341, the playback application of user terminal 12X stops playback of contents 101 and 102 and plays content 100.

[0278] As described above, the content server 11 can compare the sets of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strength of beacon signals from the same user (i.e., the same UUID) received by two receivers 301, and control the playback and stopping of content executed by the user's playback application based on the content playback table of Figure 37.

[0279] 20. Content Playback Processing Using the Second Position Detection Method Next, with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 38, a content playback processing using the second position detection method will be described when the user terminal 12X transmits a beacon signal and the receiver 301 receives it. This processing is started, for example, after a playback application is launched in the user terminal 12X and content that was preset at the time the playback application was launched is played. It is assumed that content data corresponding to the service space has already been acquired and stored in the storage unit 86 of the user terminal 12X.

[0280] First, in step S181, each receiver 301 located within the service space detects a beacon signal transmitted from a user terminal 12X and detects the UUID and reception strength. Each receiver 301 transmits the detected UUID and reception strength to the content server 11 via the network 14.

[0281] In step S182, the content server 11 receives the UUID and reception strength of the user terminal 12 transmitted from each receiver 301, and determines whether a beacon signal with the same UUID has been detected in the two receivers 301 that form the fixed point position.

[0282] If it is determined in step S182 that the two receivers 301 forming the fixed point position have not detected a beacon signal with the same UUID, the process returns to step S181, whereby the above-described steps S181 and S182 are repeated.

[0283] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S182 that beacon signals with the same UUID have been detected by the two receivers 301 that form the position of the fixed point, the process proceeds to step S183. The two beacon signals with the same UUID received by the two receivers 301 that form the position of the fixed point are designated as a first beacon signal and a second beacon signal. In step S183, the content server 11 executes a noise reduction filter to remove noise from the first and second beacon signals. The noise reduction filter process here is the same as in the example described above.

[0284] In step S184, the content server 11 stores the reception strengths of the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal with the same UUID in the memory unit 72 for the next comparison, and uses the previous reception strength and the current reception strength stored in the memory unit 72 to determine the sign of the time derivative of the reception strength of each of the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal.

[0285] In step S185, the content server 11 obtains a set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strengths of the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal having the same UUID obtained in step S184, and stores the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strengths stored in the storage unit 72. The set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strengths stored in the storage unit 72 is used in the next processing of step S186.

[0286] In step S186, the content server 11 compares the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strength of the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal obtained in step S185 with the set of signs of the time derivatives of the previous reception strength stored in the memory unit 72, and determines whether there has been a change in the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strength.

[0287] If it is determined in step S186 that there is no change in the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception intensity, the process returns to step S181, and the processes of steps S181 to S186 described above are repeated. Note that if the process of step S186 is executed for the first time and the previous set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception intensity is not stored in the storage unit 72, the process also returns to step S181.

[0288] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S186 that there is a change in the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strength, the process proceeds to step S187, where the content server 11 refers to the content playback table stored in the storage unit 72 and identifies the content playback state based on the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strength of the two beacon signals before and after passing the fixed point position. For example, using the content playback table of Figure 37 as an example, if the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strengths a and b of the two beacon signals of user X's UUID received by receivers 301A and 301B before passing position 341 is (+, +) and the set of signs of the time derivatives of the reception strengths a and b after passing position 341 is (-, +), the content playback state is identified as follows: content 101 and content 102 are played, and content 100 and content 103 are stopped.

[0289] In step S188, the content server 11 generates a content playback state instruction to play or stop the content according to the playback state of the identified content.

[0290] In step S189, the content server 11 transmits the generated content playback state instruction via the network 14 to the playback application of the user terminal 12X corresponding to the UUID.

[0291] In step S190, the playback application of the user terminal 12X receives the content playback state instruction from the content server 11 and executes content playback processing based on the content playback state instruction. In the example of the content playback table in Fig. 37, if the set of signs of the time differentials of the reception intensities a and b before passing through the position is (+, +) and the set of signs of the time differentials of the reception intensities a and b after passing through the position is (-, +), playback of the contents 101 and 102 starts, and playback of the contents 100 and 103 stops.

[0292] In step S191, the playback application determines whether to terminate the application. For example, if the user performs an operation to terminate the application, the playback application determines that the application should be terminated.

[0293] If it is determined in step S191 that the application is not yet to be terminated, the process returns to step S181, and the processes of steps S181 to S191 described above are executed again.

[0294] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S191 that the application is to be terminated, the process proceeds to step S192, where the playback application stops the content currently being played back and terminates the content playback process.

[0295] The content playback process according to the second position detection method when the user terminal 12X transmits a beacon signal and the receiver 301 receives the signal is executed as described above.

[0296] <Variations> (Variation 1) In the eighth and ninth content playback examples described above, the content data is stored in the storage unit 86 of the user terminal 12X, and the playback application executes content playback processing using the content data stored in the storage unit 86 based on a content playback state instruction from the content server 11.

[0297] However, the playback application may play back the content by streaming playback without storing the content data in the storage unit 86 of the user terminal 12. In this case, the content server 11 transmits streaming data of the content to be played back to the playback application of the user terminal 12, rather than a content playback state instruction, and the streaming data to be transmitted is switched before and after passing the position of the fixed point.

[0298] (Variation 2) In the eighth and ninth content playback examples described above, the user terminal 12X transmits a beacon signal and plays back the content. However, a configuration may be adopted in which a transmitter separate from the user terminal 12X transmits the beacon signal. In this case, the user travels with the user terminal 12 and the transmitter that transmits the beacon signal.

[0299] (Variant 3) In addition, in the eighth and ninth content playback examples described above, the UUID and reception strength detected by the receiver 301 are transmitted to the content server 11 via the network 14, and the content server 11 determines a change in the set of signs of the reception strength or its time derivative of the beacon signal with the same UUID.

[0300] However, the user terminal 12 itself may determine a change in the set of signs of the reception strength of its own beacon signal or its time derivative detected by the receiver 301. In this case, the receiver 301 may transmit the detected reception strength of the beacon signal of the user terminal 12 to the content server 11, and the content server 11 may transmit it to the user terminal 12, or the receiver 301 may transmit it directly to the user terminal 12.

[0301] 21. Block Diagram of Second Embodiment FIG. 39 is a block diagram of a content playback system according to the second embodiment.

[0302] 39 with the block diagram of the first embodiment in FIG. 12, the beacon transmitter 13 has been changed to a beacon transceiver 13'. This beacon transceiver 13' corresponds to the above-mentioned receiver 301, and has a function of receiving a beacon signal from the user terminal 12 in addition to a function of transmitting a beacon signal.

[0303] The control unit 73 of the content server 11 determines a change in the set of received strengths or the signs of their time derivatives of two beacon signals with the same UUID transmitted from the beacon transceiver 13' via the network 14. Based on the determination result and the content playback table in the storage unit 72, the control unit 73 generates a content playback state instruction and transmits it to the user terminal 12.

[0304] The user terminal 12 has an input unit 81, a display unit 82, an output unit 83, a short-range communication unit 84', a communication unit 85, a memory unit 86, and a control unit 87, and compared to the first embodiment, the short-range communication unit 84 has been changed to a short-range communication unit 84'.

[0305] The short-distance communication unit 84' has a function of transmitting a beacon signal in addition to the function of detecting a beacon signal in the first embodiment.

[0306] The control unit 87 executes a playback application in response to a user operation. For example, the playback application plays content based on a content playback state instruction from the content server 11. The content data played by the playback application may be downloaded in advance and stored in the storage unit 86, or may be streamed and acquired at the time of playback.

[0307] The beacon transceiver 13 ′ includes a communication unit 91 , a beacon transceiver unit 92 ′, and a control unit 93 .

[0308] The communication unit 91 is composed of a network interface and the like, and communicates with the content server 11 via the network 14 under the control of the control unit 93. For example, the communication unit 91 transmits the UUID and reception strength of a beacon signal received from the user terminal 12 to the content server 11 via the network 14.

[0309] The beacon transmitting / receiving unit 92′ includes an antenna and the like, and has the function of detecting a beacon signal from the user terminal 12 and detecting the UUID and reception strength in addition to the function of transmitting a beacon signal in the first embodiment. The detected UUID and reception strength are transmitted from the communication unit 91 to the content server 11 under the control of the control unit 93.

[0310] The content server 11, user terminal 12, and beacon transceiver 13′ in FIG. 39 are also capable of performing the content playback process of the first embodiment described above, and are configured to be able to selectively execute the content playback process of the first embodiment and the content playback process of the second embodiment.

[0311] 22. Summary of the Content Playback System The information processing device includes a control unit that compares a first signal transmitted by short-range wireless communication from a first signal transmitter with a second signal transmitted by short-range wireless communication from a second signal transmitter that is the same as or different from the first signal transmitter, and performs predetermined output processing based on the detection of a change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal. As a result, as described in FIG. 10 , the same content playback range can be provided to multiple user terminals 12 with different reception sensitivities, and the same performance can be achieved regardless of differences in reception sensitivity between terminal models.

[0312] In the first embodiment, the information processing device is a user terminal 12, and the first and second signal transmitters are two beacon transmitters 13. The control unit 87 of the user terminal 12 performs a playback process to play back specified content as a specified output process based on detecting a change in the relationship between the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal of the two beacon transmitters 13.

[0313] In the second embodiment, the information processing device is, for example, a content server 11, and the first and second signal transmitters are the same user terminal 12. The control unit 73 of the content server 11 performs a process of outputting a content playback state instruction to the user terminal 12 to play predetermined content as predetermined output processing based on detection of a change in the relationship between a first beacon signal and a second beacon signal received by two receivers 301 from one user terminal 12. Alternatively, when the user terminal 12 performs streaming playback, the control unit 73 performs a process of outputting content data of the predetermined content to the user terminal 12 as predetermined output processing. Alternatively, when the user terminal 12 itself receives the reception strength of its own beacon signal detected by the receiver 301, both the information processing device and the first and second signal transmitters are the user terminal 12, and the control unit 87 of the user terminal 12 performs a playback process of playing the predetermined content as predetermined output processing.

[0314] The comparison of the first signal and the second signal is a comparison of the reception strengths of the two beacon signals or their time change rates, and in the first position detection method, the detection of a change in the relationship is a change in the magnitude relationship between the reception strength of the first signal and the reception strength of the second signal before and after passing the fixed point. In the second position detection method, the detection of a change in the relationship is a change in the pair of the sign of the time change rate of the reception strength of the first signal and the sign of the time change rate of the reception strength of the second signal before and after passing the fixed point.

[0315] In the first and second embodiments described above, examples have been described in which the short-range wireless communication is communication based on the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard or the BLE standard. However, the short-range wireless communication is not limited to these. For example, the short-range wireless communication may be communication based on a wireless LAN standard such as IEEE 802.11ac or IEEE 802.11ax, and the first and second signals may be Wi-Fi beacon signals from an access point.

[0316] Either the signal transmitter that transmits the first signal or the second signal, or the signal receiver that receives the first signal or the second signal, is fixedly installed in a predetermined service space, and the other is a mobile body that can move within the service space. In the first embodiment described above, the beacon transmitter 13, which is the signal transmitter, is fixedly installed, and the user terminal 12, which is the signal receiver, is mobile within the content playback service space. In the second embodiment described above, the user terminal 12, which is the signal transmitter, is mobile within the content playback service space, and the receiver 301, which is the signal receiver, is fixedly installed. For example, if the short-range wireless communication is wireless LAN communication, the signal transmitter may be a Wi-Fi access point that is fixedly installed within the mobile space, and the signal receiver may be a mobile body such as a drone or a transport robot.

[0317] 23. Examples of Application Other Than Controlling Playback of Content In the first and second embodiments described above, examples have been described in which the predetermined output process controls playback of content, such as a process of outputting a content playback state instruction for playing back predetermined content, or a playback process for playing back predetermined content.

[0318] Other examples of output processing will be described.

[0319] The predetermined output process may be, for example, a process of outputting a playback mode setting signal that sets a playback mode. For example, in the content playback space 281 of FIG. 29 , the playback application of the user terminal 12 outputs a playback mode setting signal that sets different playback modes when the user enters the content playback space 281 and when the user exits the content playback space 281, based on a playback mode table that associates changes in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal with playback modes, thereby switching the playback mode between inside and outside the content playback space 281. The playback application switches the playback mode of the sound that is generated in response to the user's action detected by an IMU or the like. For example, the sound effect of footsteps that is generated in response to walking can be changed between a grassy area and a concrete area.

[0320] The predetermined output process may be, for example, a process of outputting an alert signal in response to entry or exit of a predetermined space. For example, if a drone is to be controlled to move within the space 261 shown in FIG. 28 , the content server 11 outputs an alert signal when it detects the drone entering the space 262 from the space 261 based on an alert table that associates changes in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal with the need for an alert. This allows the drone to be controlled to move only within a certain range defined by the space 261. The alert signal may also be output to a terminal device other than the terminal device that transmits and receives the beacon signal. For example, when a user terminal 12 carried by a child attempts to enter or exit a predetermined area, a server device corresponding to the content server 11 outputs an alert signal to the child's parent's mobile device. The parent's mobile device that receives the alert signal displays a warning screen or the like, allowing the parent to know that the child is attempting to enter or exit the predetermined area.

[0321] 24. Computer Configuration Example The above-described series of processes can be executed by hardware or software. When the series of processes is executed by software, the programs that make up the software are installed on a computer. Here, the term "computer" includes microcomputers built into dedicated hardware, and general-purpose personal computers, for example, that can execute various functions by installing various programs.

[0322] FIG. 40 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a computer that executes the above-described series of processes by a program.

[0323] In the computer, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501 , a ROM (Read Only Memory) 502 , and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 503 are interconnected by a bus 504 .

[0324] An input / output interface 505 is further connected to the bus 504. An input unit 506, an output unit 507, a storage unit 508, a communication unit 509, and a drive 510 are connected to the input / output interface 505.

[0325] The input unit 506 includes a keyboard, mouse, microphone, touch panel, input terminal, etc. The output unit 507 includes a display, speaker, output terminal, etc. The storage unit 508 includes a hard disk, SSD (Solid State Drive), RAM disk, non-volatile memory, etc. The communication unit 509 includes a network interface, etc. The drive 510 drives a removable recording medium 511 such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, or semiconductor memory.

[0326] In the computer configured as above, the CPU 501 performs the above-described series of processes by, for example, loading a program stored in the storage unit 508 into the RAM 503 via the input / output interface 505 and the bus 504 and executing the program. The RAM 503 also stores data necessary for the CPU 501 to execute various processes as appropriate.

[0327] The program executed by the computer (CPU 501) can be provided by being recorded on a removable recording medium 511 such as a package medium, for example. The program can also be provided via a wired or wireless transmission medium such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting.

[0328] In a computer, the program can be installed in the storage unit 508 via the input / output interface 505 by inserting the removable recording medium 511 into the drive 510. The program can also be received by the communication unit 509 via a wired or wireless transmission medium and installed in the storage unit 508. Alternatively, the program can be installed in the ROM 502 or the storage unit 508 in advance.

[0329] The program executed by the computer may be a program that processes in chronological order according to the order described in this specification, or may be a program that processes in parallel or at the required timing, such as when called.

[0330] In this specification, a system refers to a collection of multiple components (devices, modules (components), etc.), regardless of whether all of the components are housed in the same housing. Therefore, multiple devices housed in separate housings and connected via a network, and a single device housed in a single housing with multiple modules, are both systems.

[0331] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the technology of the present disclosure.

[0332] For example, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which all or part of the above-described embodiments are combined.

[0333] For example, the technology of the present disclosure can be configured as a cloud computing system in which a single function is shared and processed collaboratively by multiple devices via a network.

[0334] Furthermore, each step described in the above flowchart can be executed by one device, or can be shared and executed by a plurality of devices.

[0335] Furthermore, when one step includes multiple processes, the multiple processes included in that one step can be executed by one device or can be shared and executed by multiple devices.

[0336] The effects described in this specification are merely examples and are not limiting, and there may be effects other than those described in this specification.

[0337] The technology disclosed herein may employ the following configurations: (1) An information processing device including a control unit that compares a first signal and a second signal via short-range wireless communication and performs predetermined output processing based on detecting a change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal. (2) The information processing device described in (1), wherein the change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal is a change in the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths of the first signal and the second signal, and the control unit compares the reception strengths of the first signal and the second signal and performs the predetermined output processing based on detecting a change in the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths of the first signal and the second signal. (3) The information processing device described in (1) or (2), wherein the change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal is a change in the sign of a time rate of change in the reception strengths of the first signal and the second signal, and the control unit compares the signs of the time rate of change in the reception strengths of the first signal and the second signal and performs the predetermined output processing based on detecting a change in the sign of the time rate of change in the reception strengths of the first signal and the second signal. (4) The information processing device according to (3), wherein the control unit performs the predetermined output processing based on detecting a change in a set of signs of the time rates of change in reception strength of the first signal and the second signal. (5) The information processing device according to any of (1) to (4), wherein the change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal is a change in the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths of the first signal and the second signal and a change in the set of signs of the time rates of change in reception strength of the first signal and the second signal, and the control unit performs the predetermined output processing based on detecting the change in the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths of the first signal and the second signal or the change in the set of signs of the time rates of change. (6) The information processing device according to any of (1) to (5), wherein the predetermined output processing is a content playback process for playing back content, and the control unit performs the content playback process based on a content playback table that associates the change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal with a content playback state.(7) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the predetermined output process is a process of transmitting a content playback state instruction instructing playback or stop of content, and the control unit performs a process of transmitting the content playback state instruction to a terminal device that plays back the content based on a content playback table that associates changes in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal with content playback states. (8) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the predetermined output process is a content playback process of playing back content, and the control unit detects changes in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal in the order of a first change and a second change, and the control unit preloads the content when detecting the first change, and thereafter plays the preloaded content when detecting the second change. (9) The information processing device according to any of (1) to (8), wherein the predetermined output process is a content playback process for playing back content, and when a change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal is detected in the order of a first change and a second change, the content playback process is performed with the first change, and the second change is used as a backup in case the content playback process cannot be performed with the first change. (10) The information processing device according to any of (1) to (9), wherein the first signal and the second signal include identification information for identifying a signal transmitter, and a service space for providing a predetermined service is set by arranging a plurality of first signal transmitters that emit the first signals including the same first identification information and a plurality of second signal transmitters that emit the second signals including the same second identification information. (11) The information processing device according to (10), wherein the service space includes a first service space and a second service space that are distinguished in a planar direction. (12) The information processing device according to any one of (10) to (11), wherein the service space includes a first service space and a second service space that are distinguished in a height direction. (13) The information processing device according to any one of (10) to (12), wherein the control unit performs the predetermined output processing that differs depending on a route of entry or exit into the service space.(14) The information processing device according to any one of (10) to (13), wherein the control unit performs the predetermined output processing that differs depending on a history of routes of entry into or exit from the service space. (15) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (14), wherein the first signal and the second signal are Bluetooth beacon signals or Wi-Fi beacon signals. (16) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (15), wherein the predetermined output processing is processing that outputs a playback mode setting signal that sets a playback mode, and the control unit outputs the playback mode setting signal to switch the playback mode based on a playback mode table that associates changes in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal with playback modes. (17) The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (16), wherein the predetermined output processing is processing that outputs an alert signal, and the control unit outputs the alert signal based on an alert table that associates changes in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal with alerts. (18) The information processing device according to (17), wherein the control unit outputs the alert signal to a terminal device different from the terminal device moving within the service space based on the alert table. (19) An information processing method comprising: comparing a first signal with a second signal via short-range wireless communication, and performing predetermined output processing based on detecting a change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal. (20) A program for causing a computer to execute processing for comparing a first signal with a second signal via short-range wireless communication, and performing predetermined output processing based on detecting a change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal.

[0338] 1 Content playback system, 11 Content server, 12 (12X, 12Y) User terminal, 12S Reference terminal, 13 (13A to 13D) Beacon transmitter, 13' Beacon transmitter / receiver, 14 Network, 71 Communication unit, 72 Memory unit, 73 Control unit, 81 Input unit, 82 Display unit, 83 Output unit, 84, 84' Short-range communication unit, 85 Communication unit, 86 Memory unit, 87 Control unit, 91 Communication unit, 92 Beacon transmitter / receiver unit, 92' Beacon transmitter / receiver unit, 93 Control unit, 301 (301A to 301D) Receiver, 501 CPU, 502 ROM, 503 RAM, 504 Bus, 505 Input / output interface, 506 Input unit, 507 Output unit, 508 Storage unit, 509 Communication unit, 510 Drive, 511 Removable recording medium

Claims

1. An information processing device having a control unit that compares a first signal and a second signal via short-range wireless communication and performs predetermined output processing based on the detection of a change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal is a change in the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths of the first signal and the second signal, and the control unit compares the reception strengths of the first signal and the second signal, and performs the specified output processing based on the detection of a change in the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths of the first signal and the second signal.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal is a change in the sign of the time rate of change of the reception strength of the first signal and the second signal, and the control unit compares the signs of the time rate of change of the reception strength of the first signal and the second signal, and performs the specified output processing based on the detection of a change in the sign of the time rate of change of the reception strength of the first signal and the second signal.

4. The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit performs the predetermined output processing based on detecting a change in the set of signs of the time rate of change in the reception strength of the first signal and the second signal.

5. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal is a change in the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths of the first signal and the second signal and a change in the set of signs of the time change rates of the reception strengths of the first signal and the second signal, and the control unit performs the specified output processing based on detecting a change in the magnitude relationship between the reception strengths of the first signal and the second signal or a change in the set of signs of the time change rates.

6. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined output process is a content playback process for playing back content, and the control unit performs the content playback process based on a content playback table that associates changes in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal with content playback states.

7. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined output process is a process of transmitting a content playback state instruction instructing playback or stop of content, and the control unit performs a process of transmitting the content playback state instruction to a terminal device that plays back the content based on a content playback table that associates changes in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal with the content playback state.

8. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined output process is a content playback process for playing back content, the control unit detects changes in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal in the order of a first change and a second change, and the control unit preloads the content when it detects the first change, and then plays back the preloaded content when it detects the second change.

9. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined output processing is a content playback processing for playing back content, and when a change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal is detected in the order of a first change and a second change, the content playback processing is performed with the first change, and the second change is used as a backup in case the content playback processing cannot be performed with the first change.

10. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first signal and the second signal include identification information for identifying a signal transmitter, and a service space for providing a predetermined service is set by arranging a plurality of first signal transmitters that emit the first signals including the same first identification information and a plurality of second signal transmitters that emit the second signals including the same second identification information.

11. The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the service space includes a first service space and a second service space that are separated in a planar direction.

12. The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the service space includes a first service space and a second service space that are separated in the height direction.

13. The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the control unit performs the predetermined output process that differs depending on the route of entry into or exit from the service space.

14. The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the control unit performs the predetermined output process that differs depending on the history of routes of entry into or exit from the service space.

15. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first signal and the second signal are Bluetooth beacon signals or Wi-Fi beacon signals.

16. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined output process is a process of outputting a playback mode setting signal that sets a playback mode, and the control unit outputs the playback mode setting signal and switches the playback mode based on a playback mode table that associates changes in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal with the playback mode.

17. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined output process is a process of outputting an alert signal, and the control unit outputs the alert signal based on an alert table that associates changes in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal with alerts.

18. The information processing device according to claim 17, wherein the control unit outputs the alert signal to a terminal device different from the terminal device moving within the service space based on the alert table.

19. An information processing method including: comparing a first signal and a second signal transmitted via short-range wireless communication; and performing predetermined output processing based on the detection of a change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal.

20. A program for causing a computer to execute a process of comparing a first signal and a second signal transmitted by short-range wireless communication, and performing a predetermined output process based on the detection of a change in the relationship between the first signal and the second signal.

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