Portable terminal, data communication system, data communication method and program

A portable terminal includes a wireless communication unit configured to perform data communication with a wireless tag in a non-contact manner, a position determination unit configured to determine a position of the portable terminal, a control unit configured to generate guide information for guiding the portable terminal to a communicable area where communication with the wireless tag is enabled on the basis of the position determined by the position determination unit if communication is disabled when communication with the wireless tag is performed, and a display unit configured to display the generated guide information.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a portable terminal, a data communication system, a data communication method, and a program.

BACKGROUND ART

At present, there is a wireless communication technology called short-range wireless communication having a short arrival distance from several cm to about 1 m. There also exists a technique of performing mutual communication between devices using short-range wireless communication by bringing a reader and a writer for reading and writing data of a wireless tag (hereinafter referred to as a radio frequency (RF) tag) in a non-contact manner close to an RF tag for reading and writing data of an embedded memory in a non-contact manner.

Also, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of specifying position information and reading direction information when reading an RF tag and reporting guide information of an object to which the RF tag is attached on the basis of previous reading position information and previous reading direction information.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Documents

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Because a wireless communication distance is short in short-range wireless communication, it is necessary to bring an RF tag close to antennas of a reader and writer while performing data communication. Therefore, when large-volume data communication is performed and a communication time is long, it is necessary for a user to fix the RF tag close to the reader and the writer for a long time and pay attention so that they do not deviate from a communicable area during data communication.

Also, a portable terminal having reader and writer functions may not have a mark indicating a position of an antenna of an embedded RF tag from a viewpoint of design. Likewise, a data terminal with an embedded RF tag may not have a mark indicating a position of the embedded RF tag. When there is no mark indicating the position of the antenna of the RF tag or the position of the RF tag, it is necessary for the user to ascertain the positions of the RF tag embedded in the data terminal and the antenna embedded in the portable terminal and then adjust the two positions. Then the user needs to continuously fix the portable terminal so that it is maintained within a communicable area while data communication is being performed. Here, if the user moves the portable terminal during the data communication, the portable terminal may deviate from the communicable area and the data communication may be interrupted. In this manner, if the data communication is interrupted, the user needs to precisely perform alignment again, make the RF tag embedded in the data terminal and the antenna embedded in the portable terminal opposed to each other in proximity, and start data communication.

Also, in the technology shown in Patent Document 1, guide information is displayed on the basis of previous reading position information and previous reading direction information to indicate a direction or a position of an object to which an RF tag is attached. In the technology shown in Patent Document 1, when the user moves the portable terminal during data communication and the data communication is interrupted, it is difficult to guide the user in real time so that the portable terminal is located at a position where data communication is enabled.

A problem observed in the present invention is that it is difficult for a user to align a data terminal and a portable terminal again when the data terminal and the portable terminal deviate from a communicable area during data communication.

Means for Solving the Problem

According to an aspect of the present invention in view of the above-described problem, a portable terminal includes a wireless communication unit configured to perform data communication with a wireless tag in a non-contact manner; a position determination unit configured to determinate a position of the portable terminal; a control unit configured to generate guide information for guiding the portable terminal to a communicable area where communication with the wireless tag is enabled on the basis of the position determined by the position determination unit if communication is disabled when the communication with the wireless tag is performed; and a display unit configured to display the generated guide information.

Also, according to an aspect of the present invention, a portable terminal includes a wireless communication unit configured to perform data communication with a wireless tag in a non-contact manner; an acceleration determination unit configured to determinate acceleration of the portable terminal; a control unit configured to generate guide information for guiding the portable terminal to a communicable area where communication with the wireless tag is enabled on the basis of the acceleration determined by the acceleration determination unit if communication is disabled when communication with the wireless tag is performed; and a display unit configured to display the generated guide information.

Also, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data communication system including a wireless tag from and to which information is read and written in a non-contact manner and a portable terminal having a function of recording and reading data to and from the wireless tag, the portable terminal including: a wireless communication unit configured to perform data communication with the wireless tag in the non-contact manner; a position determination unit configured to determinate a position of the portable terminal; a control unit configured to generate guide information for guiding the portable terminal to a communicable area where communication with the wireless tag is enabled on the basis of the position determined by the position determination unit if communication is disabled when communication with the wireless tag is performed; and a display unit configured to display the generated guide information.

Also, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data communication method for communicating data between a wireless tag from and to which information is read and written in a non-contact manner and a portable terminal having a function of recording and reading data to and from the wireless tag, the data communication method including: determining a position of the portable terminal; generating guide information for guiding the portable terminal to a communicable area where communication with the wireless tag is enabled on the basis of the determined position if communication is disabled when communication with the wireless tag is performed; and displaying the generated guide information.

Also, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer, which records and reads data to and from a wireless tag from and to which information is able to be read and written in a non-contact manner, to execute the steps of: determining a position of a portable terminal; generating guide information for guiding the portable terminal to a communicable area where communication with the wireless tag is enabled on the basis of the determined position if communication is disabled when communication with the wireless tag is performed; and displaying the generated guide information on a display unit.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, if data communication between a portable terminal and a data terminal is disabled, a display unit displays guide information for guiding the portable terminal to a communicable area on the basis of a position determined by a position determination unit of the portable terminal. This allows a user to move the portable terminal while viewing the guide information on the display unit so that it is possible to efficiently return a position of the portable terminal to within the communicable area even when the portable terminal has deviated from the communicable distance during the data communication.

EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a data communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1, the data communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a portable terminal1and a data terminal2.

The portable terminal1has a reader function and a writer function of an RF tag. For example, a portable wireless communication device such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet, or a portable game machine is used as the portable terminal1. The data terminal2has a radio frequency (RF) tag. For example, an integrated circuit (IC) card, a personal computer, a cellular phone, and a display are used as the data terminal2. The RF tag stores, for example, setting data of the data terminal2and the like. Data communication can be performed between the portable terminal1and the RF tag of the data terminal2using short-range wireless communication.

FIG. 2is a block diagram showing schematic configurations of the portable terminal1and the data terminal2.FIG. 2shows the schematic configuration of the portable terminal1and shows the schematic configuration of the data terminal2.

As shown inFIG. 2, the portable terminal1includes a short-range wireless communication unit11, an acceleration sensor12, a display unit13, a control unit14, and the like.

The short-range wireless communication unit11realizes the reader function and the writer function of the RF tag. The short-range wireless communication unit11is provided with an antenna15. A coil antenna can be used as the antenna15. Also, the antenna15is embedded in, for example, the portable terminal1.

The acceleration sensor12determinates acceleration of the portable terminal1when it moves. An acceleration sensor for measuring acceleration of three axes of an x-axis (a predetermined direction of the portable terminal1, for example, a lateral direction parallel to a display surface of the display unit of the portable terminal1), a y-axis (a direction perpendicular to the x-axis, for example, a vertical direction parallel to the display surface of the display unit of the portable terminal1), and a z-axis (a direction perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis, for example, a depth direction toward the display surface provided in the display unit of the portable terminal1) is used as the acceleration sensor12. The acceleration sensor12is a position determination unit that determines a position of the portable terminal1and, more specifically, determines displacement from a position where communication of the portable terminal1and the data terminal2(the wireless tag) is enabled.

The display unit13includes, for example, a touch panel type display or the like. When the portable terminal1has deviated from the communicable area, guide information for guiding the portable terminal1to the communicable area is displayed on the display of the display unit13on the basis of displacement of each axis obtained based on a measured value of the acceleration sensor12. For example, a guide screen including a character string, a graphic or the like representing explanation content for guidance to the communicable area can be used as the guide information.

The control unit14includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory and controls the entire portable terminal1. The memory16of the control unit14stores a computer program for realizing the first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the control unit14, by executing this computer program, performs a process of calculating a displacement of each axis on the basis of a measured value of acceleration from the acceleration sensor12and generating a guide screen for guiding the portable terminal1to the communicable area. That is, if communication is disabled when communication with the data terminal2(an RF tag21) is performed, the control unit14generates guide information for guiding the portable terminal1to the communicable area where communication with the data terminal2is enabled on the basis of a determination result determined by the acceleration sensor12.

As shown inFIG. 2, the data terminal2includes the RF tag21. The RF tag21is a wireless tag for exchanging data using short-range wireless communication. The RF tag21is embedded in, for example, the data terminal2.

By bringing the antenna15of the portable terminal1and the RF tag21of the data terminal2close to each other, data communication can be performed between the short-range wireless communication unit11of the portable terminal1and the RF tag21of the data terminal2. In the reader function of the short-range wireless communication unit11, desired data is read from the RF tag21and this data is received by the short-range wireless communication unit11via the antenna15. In the writer function, desired data is transmitted from the short-range wireless communication unit11, received by the RF tag21via the antenna15, and written to the RF tag21.

As described above, a guide screen for guiding the portable terminal to the communicable area is displayed on the display of the display unit13. A process of generating such a guide screen will be described.

FIG. 3is a diagram showing a communicable area when the portable terminal1and the data terminal2perform data communication using short-range wireless communication. InFIG. 3, a communicable area41is a communicable area where the portable terminal1can perform data communication. A communicable area42is a communicable area where the data terminal2can perform data communication. The communicable area41of the portable terminal1and the communicable area42of the data terminal2overlap so that the short-range wireless communication unit11of the portable terminal1can read desired data from the RF tag21of the data terminal2. Also, the short-range wireless communication unit11of the portable terminal1can write desired data to the RF tag21of the data terminal2. The portable terminal1is assumed to be moved when the portable terminal1and the data terminal2are performing data communication using short-range wireless communication. At this time, if a positional relationship between the portable terminal1and the data terminal2deviates from a relationship in which the communicable area41and the communicable area42intersect, data communication between the portable terminal1and the RF tag of the data terminal2is not performed. In the case of short-range wireless communication, the communicable area41and the communicable area42are small and it is difficult to hold the portable terminal1in the communicable area.

Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, when the portable terminal1is moved during the data communication and the data communication between the portable terminal1and the RF tag of the data terminal2is in a disabled state, the acceleration sensor12of the portable terminal1starts to measure acceleration of the portable terminal1. In the first embodiment of the present invention, a displacement of the portable terminal1from a point in time at which communication with the RF tag of the data terminal2was disabled is calculated on the basis of a measured value of the acceleration. In the first embodiment of the present invention, guide information for guiding the portable terminal1to the communicable area is displayed on the display unit13on the basis of the obtained displacement. The user moves the portable terminal1while viewing the guide of the display unit13so that it is possible to efficiently return the position of the portable terminal1to within the communicable area even when the portable terminal1has deviated from the communicable distance during data communication.

That is, in the first embodiment of the present invention, when the communicable area41of the portable terminal1and the communicable area42of the data terminal2do not overlap (in the case of deviation from the communicable area) during data communication, the acceleration sensor12of the portable terminal1starts to measure acceleration of the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis from that point in time. By integrating the measured acceleration of each axis by time twice at each fixed time, the displacement of each axis at each fixed time is obtained. The displacement of each axis of the portable terminal1from a position at a point in time at which communication was disabled is obtained by cumulatively adding the displacement at each fixed time for each axis. Once the displacement of each axis is obtained, a guide screen for guiding the portable terminal1to the communicable area can be generated on the basis of the displacement of each axis.

FIG. 4is a diagram showing a guide screen50. As shown inFIG. 4, the guide screen50includes arrow indicators51to53and distance indicators54to56. The arrow indicator51indicates an x-axis direction toward the communicable area. The arrow indicator52indicates a y-axis direction toward the communicable area. The arrow indicator53indicates a z-axis direction toward the communicable area. The distance indicator54indicates a distance in the x-axis direction toward the communicable area. The distance indicator55indicates a distance in the y-axis direction toward the communicable area. The distance indicator56indicates a distance in the z-axis direction toward the communicable area.

The arrow indicator51in the x-axis direction, the arrow indicator52in the y-axis direction, and the arrow indicator53in the z-axis direction toward the communicable area are displayed to be opposite to the displacement of each axis acquired by the portable terminal1. Also, the direction of each of the arrow indicators51to53is changed so that the direction toward the communicable area is always displayed, depending on a sign of the acquired displacement. Absolute values of displacement acquired of each axis are displayed as the distance indicator54in the x-axis direction, the distance indicator55in the y-axis direction, and the distance indicator56in the z-axis direction toward the communicable area.

FIG. 5is a flowchart showing a process of generating a guide screen in the first embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 5, the control unit14determines whether or not the data communication between the portable terminal1and the RF tag of the data terminal2has been completed (step S1). When the data communication has been completed (step S1: Yes), the control unit14terminates the process. On the other hand, when the data communication has not been completed (step S1: NO), the control unit14determines whether or not the data terminal2is within a communicable area (step S2). For example, when the control unit14communicates with the data terminal2, the control unit14determines that the data terminal2has deviated from the communicable area if data communication is interrupted, such as when communication is disabled during communication, and determines that the data terminal2is within the communicable area if communication is established.

When the data terminal2is within the communicable area in step S2(step S2: Yes), the control unit14deletes a display of a guide screen if the guide screen is displayed (step S6) and proceeds to step S1. If the guide screen is not displayed, the control unit14proceeds to step S1in a state in which the guide screen is not displayed.

On the other hand, if the portable terminal1and the data terminal2are outside the communicable area in step S2(step S2: No), the control unit14moves the process to step S3.

In step S3, the acceleration sensor12starts to measure acceleration of the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis. Then, the control unit14calculates displacement of each axis from a position at a point in time at which communication was disabled on the basis of the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor12(step S4). That is, by integrating the measured acceleration of each axis by time twice at each fixed time, the displacement of each axis at each fixed time is calculated. The displacement of each axis of the portable terminal1from the position at the point in time at which communication was disabled is calculated by cumulatively adding the displacement at each fixed time for each axis. Then, the control unit14causes the display unit13to display the guide screen50on the basis of the displacement of each axis calculated by the portable terminal1(step S5), and returns the process to step S2. In step S2, it is determined whether the position of the portable terminal1has returned to a position where the communicable area41of the portable terminal1and the communicable area42of the data terminal2overlap. If the position of the portable terminal1does not return to the position where the communicable area41of the portable terminal1and the communicable area42of the data terminal2overlap (step S2: No), the processing from step S2to step S5is iterated. If the position of the portable terminal1returns to the position where the communicable area41of the portable terminal1and the communicable area42of the data terminal2overlap in step S2and the data communication between the portable terminal1and the RF tag of the data terminal2is enabled (step S2: Yes), the display of the guide screen is deleted (step S6).

As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, when the portable terminal1is moved during data communication and in a state in which communication is disabled, a displacement of the portable terminal from a position at a point in time at which communication with the RF tag of the data terminal2was disabled is calculated. On the basis of the calculated displacement, a guide screen for guiding the portable terminal1to a communicable area is displayed on the display of the display unit13. Thereby, when the portable terminal1is moved and communication with the RF tag of the data terminal2cannot be performed, the user can easily return the portable terminal1to a position of the communicable area.

Second Embodiment

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.FIG. 6is a block diagram showing schematic configurations of a portable terminal101and a data terminal102according to the second embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 6is a schematic configuration of the portable terminal101, and is a schematic configuration of the data terminal102.

As shown inFIG. 6, the portable terminal101includes a short-range wireless communication unit111, an acceleration sensor112, a display unit113, a control unit114, and the like. These are similar to the short-range wireless communication unit11, the acceleration sensor12, the display unit13, and the control unit14in the first embodiment. Further, a signal intensity determination unit117is provided in the portable terminal101in the second embodiment of the present invention. The signal intensity determination unit117determinates a received signal intensity of the short-range wireless communication unit111. Also, the signal intensity determination unit117may be provided in the short-range wireless communication unit111.

Also, the short-range wireless communication unit111is provided with an antenna115. A computer program for realizing the second embodiment of the present invention is stored in a memory116of the control unit114.

As shown inFIG. 6, the data terminal102includes an RF tag121. This configuration is similar to that of the RF tag21of the data terminal2in the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, if data communication is started between the portable terminal101and the data terminal102, the control unit114of the portable terminal101causes measurement of a signal intensity by the signal intensity determination unit117and measurement of acceleration of the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis by the acceleration sensor112to be started. A time at which data communication is started is assumed to be T0. The signal intensity and the acceleration are measured every fixed time ΔT from the time T0and are stored in the control unit114. By integrating the acceleration measured every fixed time ΔT by the time ΔT twice, displacement of each axis at each fixed time can be obtained. A time at which the portable terminal101is present at a position serving as a starting point of the displacement is assumed to be a starting point time Ts. An initial value of Ts is a time at which acceleration was first acquired after the activation of the acceleration sensor112. The displacement of the portable terminal from the starting point time Ts to a time Tn can be obtained by cumulatively adding displacement every fixed time ΔT until the time Tn for each axis.

Here, the maximum value of the signal intensity is assumed to be Smax. An initial value of the maximum value Smax of the signal intensity is a signal intensity Ss measured at the starting point time Ts of data communication. When the signal intensity Sn measured at the time Tn (Tn>Ts) is greater than a signal intensity S(n−1) measured at a time T(n−1), the maximum value Smax of the signal intensity is updated as Smax=Sn. If the maximum value Smax of the signal intensity is updated, displacement acquired so far is deleted. Using a position of the portable terminal101acquiring the maximum value Smax of the signal intensity as a position Pmax where the signal intensity is maximized and using a time at which the maximum value Smax is acquired as the starting point time Ts, the acquisition of displacement is resumed using the measured value of the acceleration sensor112.

By moving the portable terminal101during data communication, a guide screen is displayed on the display unit113of the portable terminal101from a point in time at which a communicable area of the portable terminal101and a communicable area of the data terminal102do not overlap (a point in time at which the portable terminal101deviates from the communicable area). In the second embodiment of the present invention, a guide for guiding the portable terminal101to a position where the signal intensity is maximized is displayed on the display unit113.

That is,FIG. 7is a diagram showing a guide screen150according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 7, the guide screen150includes arrow indicators151to153and distance indicators154to156. The arrow indicator151indicates an x-axis direction toward a position where the signal intensity is maximized. The arrow indicator152indicates a y-axis direction toward the position where the signal intensity is maximized. The arrow indicator153indicates a z-axis direction toward the position where the signal intensity is maximized. The distance indicator154indicates a distance in the x-axis direction toward the position where the signal intensity is maximized. The distance indicator155indicates a distance in the y-axis direction toward the position where the signal intensity is maximized. The distance indicator156indicates a distance in the z-axis direction toward the position where the signal intensity is maximized.

The directions of the arrow indicator151, the arrow indicator152, and the arrow indicator153toward the position Pmax where the signal intensity is maximized are directions opposite to the displacement of axes acquired by the portable terminal101. Also, the directions of the arrow indicators151to153are changed depending on a sign of the acquired displacement so that a direction in which the signal intensity is maximized is always displayed. Also, the distance indicator154in the x-axis direction, the distance indicator155in the y-axis direction, and the distance indicator156in the z-axis direction indicate absolute values of displacement acquired in the axes.

FIG. 8is a flowchart showing a process of generating a guide screen in the second embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 8, the control unit114determines whether or not data communication between the portable terminal101and the RF tag of the data terminal102has been completed (step S113). When the data communication has been completed (step S103: Yes), the control unit114terminates the process. On the other hand, when the data communication has not been completed (step S113: NO), the control unit114determines whether or not the data terminal102is within a communicable area (step S101).

When it is determined that the data terminal102is within the communicable area (step S101: Yes), the control unit114acquires measured values of acceleration of the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis from the acceleration sensor112and also acquires a measured value of a signal intensity from the signal intensity determination unit117(step S102).

Next, the control unit114determines whether or not the signal intensity acquired in step S102is greater than or equal to a maximum value of signal intensities acquired so far (step S103). When the acquired signal intensity is not greater than or equal to the maximum value of the signal intensities acquired so far (step S103: No), the control unit114calculates displacement of each axis from a position where the signal intensity of the portable terminal101is maximized on the basis of the measured value of the acceleration sensor112(step S104). Then, the control unit114returns the process to step S101.

When the acquired signal intensity is greater than or equal to the maximum value of the signal intensities acquired so far (step S103: Yes), the control unit114determines whether or not a guide screen is being displayed (step S105). If the guide screen is not being displayed (step S105: No), the control unit114updates a position where the signal intensity is maximized with a present acquisition position, resets the displacement of each axis of the portable terminal101(step S106), and returns the process to step S101.

By iterating the processing from step S101to step S106, a position where the signal intensity is maximized is acquired in step S106and a displacement of each axis from the position where the signal intensity of the portable terminal101is maximized is acquired in step S104.

If it is determined that the portable terminal101has deviated from the communicable area in step S101(step S101: No), the control unit114determines whether or not the displacement of each axis from the position where the signal intensity of the portable terminal101is maximized has been acquired (step S107). If the displacement has not been acquired (step S107: No), the control unit114returns the process to step S101.

When the displacement has been acquired (step S107: Yes), the control unit114acquires measured values of acceleration of the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis from the acceleration sensor112(step S108). Then, the control unit114calculates the displacement of each axis from the position where the signal intensity of the portable terminal101is maximized by cumulatively adding the displacement obtained based on the measured value of each axis acquired in step S108to the displacement obtained in step S104(step S109). Then, the control unit114determines whether or not the guide screen is being displayed (step S110). If the guide screen is not being displayed in step S110(step S110: No), the control unit114displays the guide screen (step S111) and returns the process to step S101. When the guide screen is being displayed in step S110(step S110: Yes), the control unit114returns the process to step S101.

In step S101, it is determined whether a position of the portable terminal101has returned to the communicable area of the portable terminal101. If the position of the portable terminal101does not return to a position where the communicable area of the portable terminal101and the communicable area of the data terminal102overlap each other (step S101: No), the processing from step S107to step S110is iterated. Thereby, the displacement of each axis from the position where the signal intensity of the portable terminal101is maximized is displayed on the guide screen.

If it is determined that the position of the portable terminal101has returned to the position where the communicable area of the portable terminal101and the communicable area of the data terminal102overlap in step S101(step S101: Yes), the control unit114moves the process to step S102. In step S102, the control unit114acquires a measured value of acceleration of each axis from the acceleration sensor112and acquires the signal intensity from the signal intensity determination unit117. In step S103, the control unit114determines whether or not the signal intensity acquired in step S102is greater than or equal to a maximum value of signal intensities acquired so far.

When the acquired signal intensity is not greater than or equal to the maximum value of the signal intensities acquired so far (step S103: No), the control unit114calculates displacement of each axis from a position where the signal intensity of the portable terminal101is maximized on the basis of the measured value of the acceleration sensor112(step S104). Thereby, the displacement of each axis from the position where the signal intensity of the portable terminal101is maximized is continuously displayed on the guide screen.

If the acquired signal intensity is greater than or equal to the maximum value of the signal intensities acquired so far (step S103: Yes), the display unit113determines whether or not the guide screen is being displayed (step S105). If the guide screen is being displayed (step S105: Yes), the control unit114deletes the guide screen (step S112) and terminates the process

As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, a position where the signal intensity is maximized is determined. In the second embodiment of the present invention, when the portable terminal101is moved during data communication and is in a state in which communication is disabled, a displacement of the portable terminal101from a position where the signal intensity is maximized in the portable terminal101is calculated. In the second embodiment of the present invention, guide information for guiding the portable terminal101to a communicable area is displayed on the display of the display unit113on the basis of the obtained displacement. Thereby, when the portable terminal101is moved and communication with the data terminal102cannot be performed, a user can return the portable terminal101to an optimum position where the signal intensity is maximized.

FIG. 9is a schematic block diagram showing a basic configuration of a portable terminal according to the present invention. As illustrated inFIG. 9, a portable terminal501according to the present invention includes a wireless communication unit511, a position determination unit512, a control unit513, and a display unit514as basic components.

The wireless communication unit511performs data communication with a wireless tag521in a non-contact manner. The position determination unit512determines a position of the portable terminal501. If data communication is disabled when communication with the wireless tag521is performed, the control unit513generates guide information for guiding the portable terminal501to a communicable area where communication with the wireless tag521is enabled on the basis of the position determined by the position determination unit512. The display unit514displays the generated guide information. Thereby, by moving the portable terminal while the user views the guide of the display unit, it is possible to efficiently return the position of the portable terminal to within the communicable area even when the portable terminal501has deviated from the communicable distance during data communication.

The portable terminals1,101, and501described above have a computer system therein. The above-described operations of the processing units are stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and the above-described processes are performed by the computer reading and executing this program. Here, the computer-readable recording medium refers to a magnetic disc, a magneto-optical disc, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Alternatively, the computer program may be distributed to a computer through a communication line, and the computer receiving the distributed computer program may execute the program.

Although either displacement of a portable terminal from a position at which communication with a RF tag of the data terminal2is disabled is obtained (calculated) or displacement of the portable terminal from a position where signal intensity is maximized in the portable terminal101is obtained on the basis of acceleration when the portable terminal is moved during data communication and is in a state in which communication is disabled in the first embodiment or the second embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a position determination unit having a global positioning system (GPS) function of determining a position of the portable terminal instead of the acceleration sensor may be provided and a displacement of the portable terminal may be obtained on the basis of a position at which communication with the RF tag of the data terminal2is disabled and a current position of the portable terminal. Also, a displacement of the portable terminal101from a position where signal intensity is maximized in communication with the RF tag of the data terminal102may be obtained. Also, an acceleration determination unit including the acceleration sensor is an example of the position determination unit. Also, a relative position with the wireless tag may be obtained as the displacement of the portable terminal. That is, the portable terminal is configured to be guided to a communicable area where communication between the portable terminal and the wireless tag is enabled.

Also, the above-described program may be a program for implementing some of the above-described processes. Further, the above-described program may be a program capable of implementing the above-described processes in combination with a program already recorded on a computer system, i.e., a so-called differential file (differential program).

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, specific configurations are not limited to the embodiments, and a design or the like may also be included without departing from the scope of the present invention.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

11,111Short-range wireless communication unit