Apparatus, method, and computer-readable recording medium for distributing position data

• US 9,491,579 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Fukuda, Michitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Mapa, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/049,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20140106778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.2, 455/433, 455/440, 455/448, 455/450, 455/456, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/464, 4554561-457
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

A distribution apparatus for distributing a wireless signal to a communication terminal includes a distribution unit configured to distribute the wireless signal containing unique data that is unique to the distribution apparatus. A position data indicating a position of the distribution apparatus and a predetermined threshold value pertaining to a signal strength of the wireless signal received by the communication terminal are identifiable based on the unique data.

Claims

1. A communication terminal for receiving wireless signals from a plurality of distribution apparatuses, the communication terminal comprising:

a reception unit configured to receive the wireless signals, each of the wireless signals containing unique data that is unique to each of the plurality of distribution apparatuses; and

a storage unit configured to store distribution apparatus data of each of the plurality of distribution apparatuses;

wherein a position data indicating a position of the distribution apparatus and a predetermined threshold value pertaining to a signal strength of the wireless signal received by the reception unit are identifiable based on the unique data;

wherein the distribution apparatus data contains the position data and the predetermined threshold value, the position data and the predetermined threshold value being unique to each of the plurality of distribution apparatuses and corresponding to the unique data;

wherein the communication terminal is configured to search the distribution apparatus data stored in the storage unit, and identify the position data and the predetermined threshold value based on the unique data contained in the received wireless signal, and

the communication terminal further comprises a transmission/reception unit configured to transmit identification data of the communication terminal together with the position data of the distribution apparatus to the distribution apparatus.

2. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a case where the signal strength of the wireless signal is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value, the position data is determined as position data indicating a current position of the communication terminal.

3. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 2,

wherein the communication terminal is configured to calculate a position data of the communication terminal by relative positioning,

wherein in a case where the signal strength of the wireless signal is less than the predetermined threshold value, the position data calculated by the communication terminal is determined to indicate the current position of the communication terminal.

4. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unique data is at least one of a MAC address or an identification data assigned to the distribution apparatus beforehand.

5. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position data and the predetermined threshold value are stored in a single frame constituting a wireless signal and distributed from the distribution apparatus.

6. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position data and the predetermined threshold value are stored in two or more frames constituting a wireless signal and distributed from the distribution apparatus.

7. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unique data is received by a communication method complying with an IMES (Indoor MEssaging System) standard.

8. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position data includes data pertaining to at least one of latitude, longitude, and a floor number.

9. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold value is indicated by a unit of dBHz.

10. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein when two or more position data are consecutively received from the plurality of distribution apparatuses, current position data is determined according to a signal strength of the received wireless signal.

11. A method for receiving wireless signals from a plurality of distribution apparatuses by a communication terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the communication terminal, the wireless signals, each of the wireless signals containing unique data that is unique to each of the plurality of distribution apparatuses;

storing, in the communication terminal, distribution apparatus data of each of the plurality of distribution apparatuses;

wherein a position data indicating a position of the distribution apparatus and a predetermined threshold value pertaining to a signal strength of the wireless signal received by the communication terminal are identifiable based on the unique data;

wherein the distribution apparatus data contains the position data and the predetermined threshold value, the position data and the predetermined threshold value being unique to each of the plurality of distribution apparatuses and corresponding to the unique data; and

wherein the method further comprises the steps of;

searching, by the communication terminal, the distribution apparatus data stored in the communication terminal,

identifying, by the communication terminal, the position data and the predetermined threshold value based on the unique data contained in the received wireless signal, and

transmitting identification data of the communication terminal together with the position data of the distribution apparatus to the distribution apparatus.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded for causing a computer to execute a method for receiving wireless signals by a communication terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the communication terminal, the wireless signals, each of the wireless signals containing unique data that is unique to each of a plurality of distribution apparatuses;

storing, in the communication terminal, distribution apparatus data of each of the plurality of distribution apparatuses;

wherein a position data indicating a position of the distribution apparatus and a predetermined threshold value pertaining to a signal strength of the wireless signal received by the communication terminal are identifiable based on the unique data;

wherein the distribution apparatus data contains the position data and the predetermined threshold value, the position data and the predetermined threshold value being unique to each of the plurality of distribution apparatuses and corresponding to the unique data; and

wherein the method further comprises the steps of;

searching, by the communication terminal, the distribution apparatus data stored in the communication terminal, and

identifying, by the communication terminal, the position data and the predetermined threshold value based on the unique data contained in the received wireless signal, and

transmitting identification data of the communication terminal together with the position data of the distribution apparatus to the distribution apparatus.

13. A communication terminal for receiving wireless signals from a plurality of distribution apparatuses, the communication terminal comprising:

a reception unit configured to receive the wireless signals, each of the wireless signals containing unique data that is unique to each of the plurality of distribution apparatuses; and

a storage unit configured to store distribution apparatus data of each of the plurality of distribution apparatuses;

wherein a position data indicating a position of the distribution apparatus and a predetermined threshold value pertaining to a signal strength of the wireless signal received by the reception unit are identifiable based on the unique data;

wherein the distribution apparatus data contains the position data and the predetermined threshold value, the position data and the predetermined threshold value being unique to each of the plurality of distribution apparatuses and corresponding to the unique data;

wherein the communication terminal is configured to search the distribution apparatus data stored in the storage unit, and identify the position data and the predetermined threshold value based on the unique data contained in the received wireless signal,

wherein in a case where the signal strength of the wireless signal is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value, the position data is determined as position data indicating a current position of the communication terminal,

wherein the communication terminal is configured to calculate a position data of the communication terminal by relative positioning, and

wherein in a case where the signal strength of the wireless signal is less than the predetermined threshold value, the position data calculated by the communication terminal is determined to indicate the current position of the communication terminal,

wherein the communication terminal transmits identification data of the communication terminal together with the position data of the distribution apparatus to the distribution apparatus, or the communication terminal transmits identification data of the communication terminal together with the position data calculated by the communication terminal to the distribution apparatus.