Frequently Asked Questions for Users

Please refer to this page for frequently asked questions in MOCHA.

If you have any further questions, please contact us using the inquiry form.

Where is my location information recorded and what is it used for? Will location history be published just by installing the app?

It is recorded on the server and used for spatial information for the purpose of displaying congestion information and controlling infectious diseases. Location history is used based on the terms of service for each channel. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information on the handling of personal data.

No personally identifiable information is disclosed at this time. Anonymous information is used as statistical information. If a registered channel such as a laboratory channel is created in the future, the name will be displayed to the administrator and followers. Please check the terms of service at the time of follow-up for detailed conditions. Information will not be disclosed without the consent of the user.

Does Bluetooth have to be on all the time? Does it make the cell phone battery to deplete faster?

When Bluetooth is turned OFF, beacons cannot be read, so that your locations will not be recorded.

Communication with the beacon uses Bluetooth's power saving standard (Bluetooth Low Energy), and it is reported that the power consumption overhead of smartphones by reading the beacon is several percent. Communication when uploading data to the server consumes power, but even if you stay in one place for several hours, it consumes less power than sending E-mails or using the Internet. It is unlikely that the battery will decrease so quickly and greatly that it interferes with normal usage of your device.

Does "location information" of the device always have to be on?

Your location will not be accurately recorded if the "location information" of your device is NOT turned on. This is because if the location information is OFF, the strength of beacon signals, which is necessary for calculating the distance between the beacon and the smartphone, cannot be obtained when the application is in the background state.

What can I do by following the channel?

When you follow a channel with a reservation function, you can use the function provided by the channel and check channel-specific information. In addition, by registering for the Campus Congestion Statistics channel, it will be possible to provide data for congestion statistics in highly public spaces such as lecture rooms. Channels with other functions will be added in the future. You need to agree to the terms of service for each channel.

I'm in the classroom, but my device is not receiving beacons.

Currently, beacons are installed only in the classrooms listed in the congestion status list, and cannot be received in other classrooms. It will take about 1 minute before your location is recorded by the server.

If the installed beacon is not detected, first make sure that your smartphone settings allow the app to get your location information and that you are following the Campus Congestion Statistics channel.

If the problem still exits, unfollow the Campus Congestion Statistics channel for the moment and follow it again. If there is a problem with the app, this operation may solve it.

If the problem still exists even after unfollowing the channnel, try restarting the app and reinstalling it. If that doesn't work, please contact the UTokyo MOCHA project team.

At the edge of the classroom, your location may not be recorded correctly, or signals from other rooms may be received. The adjustment of the signal strength of beacons will be conducted based on the defect report. It would be highly appreciated if you could report the defect from the inquiry form.

Where should I contact if I become infected with the COVID-19?

Please refer to the page "If you are diagnosed with COVID-19."

Can I delete my location history?

If you delete the account from the setting screen, you can automatically delete all the location history associated with the target account. The delete function for each place of location is not supported at the moment, but it will be implemented in the future.

Are there any plans to expand the areas where beacons are detectable?

Areas where the MOCHA's location recording service is availale will be expanded following the request of users. Please submit the beacon request form for newly setting beacons in classrooms. Please refer to this page for more details. (access available with ECCS account only)

If I follow the Reservation Channel without following the Campus Congestion Statistics channel, will my location be recorded?

If you have registered one or more channels, your location information will be acquired from the beacons. Location history may be used depending on the function of each reservation channel. If you do not follow the Campus Congestion Statistics channel, the Campus Congestion Statistics channel will not be logged and your location history will not be included in the congestion statistics.

Which should I refer to if the congestion statistics differ among MOCHA, NAMIHEI and Wi-Fi?

The three services use different sources to calculate the number of people in a room. MOCHA counts the number of devices that have MOCHA installed, NAMIHEI counts the number of devices that have COCOA installed and utilize the installation rate of the COCOA to calculate the number, and Wi-Fi shows the number of connected devices to UTokyo Wi-Fi. Since the data varies by the installation rate of each app and the number of devices owned by each person, congestion statistics shows three different measurements to enable conprehensive understanding of the congestion.

To use all the functions of MOCHA, you need to log in with ECCS cloud email account. Students and faculty members of the University of Tokyo should follow the instructions and log in again using ECCS cloud email account.

Where can I find my ECCS cloud email account?

Click here for ECCS cloud email account.