JP2003228797A - System for monitoring object in virtual space - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism for informing a person or the like existing in the vicinity of a contractor, a guard company and an object of a situation of the object, while grasping a behavior of the object in a virtual space and taking an area, a time, an operation characteristic, spatial information and the like into account. <P>SOLUTION: A moving body communication system 10 mounted with a GPS function detects the present position by a GPS satellite 20 to be transmitted to a system control communication device 40. The behavior of the object is grasped in the system control communication device to transmit abnormality or the like to a communication device 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a system for monitoring an object in a virtual space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A technique for confirming the position of a moving body and reporting an abnormality is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-2182 as an area setting technique.
Some of them are set in a plurality of position detection areas according to the arrival status of radio waves transmitted from a plurality of base stations arranged apart from each other as described in Japanese Patent No. 53, and a plurality of companies move in. This is effective in the case of fixed areas such as office buildings. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-145
As described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 92, there are those which are set by the latitude and longitude of the starting point and the ending point of the rectangular area and the latitude and longitude and the radius of the base point of the circular area, which are effective means when setting an arbitrary area. is there.

As a determination method, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-218
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 253/2003, which makes a determination based on whether there is a region deviation from the region as described in Japanese Patent No.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-76289, which determines whether or not a moving body has entered the reporting area or has exited from the reporting area, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 001-14592.
When the distance between the planned travel route and the current position exceeds a predetermined value, or when the planned travel route and the actual travel route are compared, the subject deviates from the planned travel route, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. For example, there is a judgment based on whether or not the state has been met.

Further, as a stop of the moving body, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-2001
If the mobile terminal device stores time information for issuing an alarm by stopping for a certain period of time as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 14592, and the time when the user stays in the same place exceeds the time of the time information. What to report, JP 2001-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 6289, there is a notification to be issued when the subject is in a detention state in which the subject is detained in a certain narrow area.

Further, as the speed of the moving body, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-2001
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 14592, the mobile terminal device stores speed information for alerting due to high-speed movement, and based on the latitude / longitude information detected by the satellite positioning means, its own speed There are things such as reporting when the speed of information is exceeded.

Further, as a time constraint, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-2001
As described in Japanese Patent No. 76289, the upper limit of the time required to normally move on the planned moving route is stored in advance as the planned moving time, and from the time when the safety confirmation request signal for the target person appears in the received signal. For example, there is one that notifies when the safety confirmation end instruction signal does not appear in the received signal by the time when the scheduled movement time has elapsed.

[0007]

However, in the area setting technique, it is difficult with the current technology to set the area of an arbitrary shape in detail and flexibly according to the user's taste.

Also, the determination method has a problem that the effective area and the invalid area cannot be determined in consideration of the time constraint. Needless to say, there is no technique for making a determination in conjunction with the user's action schedule.

Further, regarding the stop of the moving body, there is a problem that the notification is made even at a place such as a cram school where the stop is allowed. In addition, it is not possible to consider whether or not the vehicle can be stopped at any place such as a convenience store under any time constraint. Furthermore, there is a problem in that it is not possible to consider spatial constraints such as the operating characteristics of objects, signals, and construction.

Regarding the speed of the moving body, it is a target of notification even when the user moves on a train at a high speed. Also, in urban areas, moving speed may slow down even if you are taken away by car,
Spatial constraints such as existing on roads cannot be considered. Furthermore, since public transportation is used at a specific time, there is a problem in that it is not possible to consider time constraints such that high-speed movement at that time is not subject to notification.

Further, regarding the time constraint, detailed and flexible setting that any region should or should not exist at any time is not possible.
Furthermore, there is nothing that sets a time constraint for the behavior.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to allow a system developer or a user to flexibly set a presence / absence area of an object such as a human being or a vehicle in a virtual space, and grasp the behavior of the object to determine the area, the time, and the operation. It is to provide a mechanism to monitor the object so as to notify the danger in consideration of characteristics and spatial information and to give advance notice when a bus or visitor approaches.

[0013]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a means for acquiring the position of an object such as a person or a vehicle in the real world by a mobile communication device,
A means for expressing an object such as a person or a vehicle in the real world in a virtual space as an object, a means for setting an area of existence / non-existence for the object, and a time constraint such as an action schedule for the area. Means to set,
Means for determining whether or not an object exists in the region in consideration of the time constraint, and the result of the determination,
A means for notifying a communication device existing in the vicinity of the mobile communication device dynamically extracted by a predetermined communication device or an arbitrary criterion when the notification condition such as abnormality is satisfied, and the like. A virtual space object monitoring system comprising: an information storage unit that stores information about the virtual space and the object; and a unit that controls information about the virtual space and the object by a system control communication device. Is. In the invention according to claim 2, a means for acquiring the position of an object such as a person or vehicle in the real world by the mobile communication device, and an object such as an object such as person or vehicle in the real world in the virtual space. Means for expressing the behavior of the object from the position and displacement of the object, and means for setting motion characteristics such as a behavior pattern, route, speed, etc. for the object or any of the object groups. A means for setting spatial information that constrains the behavior of objects such as railways, roads, signals, rivers, construction, facilities, and terrain in a virtual space, and a time constraint such as a behavior schedule for the behavior or the behavioral characteristics. And means for determining whether or not the behavior of the object is normal in consideration of the motion characteristic, the spatial information, and the time constraint, As a result of the judgment, if a notification condition such as an abnormality is satisfied, a communication device existing in the vicinity of the mobile communication device dynamically extracted according to a predetermined communication device or an arbitrary criterion is notified of the abnormality. Means for controlling the virtual space and the object, information storage means for storing information about the virtual space and the object, and means for controlling information about the virtual space and the object by a system control communication device. Is provided.
Further, in the invention according to claim 3, the area indicating existence / non-existence set for the object in the virtual space is subdivided into two-dimensional or three-dimensional space by subdivision into a grid according to a certain standard. An object of the present invention is to provide a virtual space object monitoring system characterized by including a region code for identifying each region according to a certain standard and recognizing the region by the region code. In the invention according to claim 4, means for arranging / designating spatial information of roads / facility, etc. on a map in the form of lines, rectangles, etc.
A means for converting the designated space information into information capable of determining whether or not an object exists in the space, and a means for storing the conversion information in a corresponding area code according to claim 3. A virtual space object monitoring system is provided.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A configuration example of an embodiment of the present invention will be shown. In the configuration diagram of FIG. 1, a mobile communication device 10 equipped with a GPS function receives a signal of position-related information (latitude / longitude, start time information, etc.) from a GPS satellite 20, detects a current position, and relay station. It transmits to the system control communication apparatus 40 which is a base station via 30.

In the system control communication device 40, the control unit 4
In step 1, the position information of the object is acquired and stored in the database 45, and the virtual space and object related information is transmitted to the notification destination communication device 50 as necessary.
The notification destination communication device 50 includes a portable information terminal 50a, a personal computer 50b, a landline telephone 50c, and a FAX 50.
d, pager 50e, telematics 50f, and the like.

Next, the internal structure of the system control communication device will be described. 2, a control unit 41 for controlling a virtual space and objects, a virtual space information database 45a such as maps and area information, an object information database 45b such as object information and existence / non-existence area information for each object, time series. The main database includes a log / security information database 45c such as virtual space history information and notification history information for each object, and a real world information database 45d such as a real world user schedule.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the area code used to set the area. The area code is set so that the space is divided into lattices and can be managed hierarchically like top, middle, and bottom, and an identification number is given to each divided square (300). As the area code system, the identification numbers of the respective layers are managed by three digits, and by combining them, they are represented as "022032034" (310).
As a result, when the entire lower layer area is included, it can be managed by the upper layer code, and it becomes possible to facilitate system control and reduce the disk capacity. The area code itself has no novelty, and it is considered that the area code has novelty in utilizing the area code for monitoring objects in the virtual space. Therefore, the area code is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-30510.
Practical code as shown in 8 may be utilized.

Next, FIG. 4 shows an example of the flow of determination processing regarding the area.
Shown in. Obtain the position and time of the object (S40
1) Convert the acquired position into a region code (S40)
2). Next, the preset area and time constraint of the object set in advance are confirmed (S403), and the position of the object and existence / absence / time constraint are collated / determined (S40).
4). Next, as a result of the determination, if normal / notification is unnecessary, the process returns to the beginning of the flow and repeats this flow at regular intervals.
If an abnormality / notification is required, it is determined whether or not to notify various communication devices (S405). If the notification is canceled, the flow returns to the beginning of the flow, but if notification is required, the communication device is notified (S405).
406). The notification propriety determination (S405) determines whether to notify based on preset conditions such as the area, the type of determination, and the notification time interval, compared with the notification results of the previous time or before.

Next, FIG. 5 shows an example of the flow of determination processing regarding behavior.
Shown in. Obtain the position and time of the object (S50
1), the displacement and speed of the object are calculated from the acquired position to calculate and grasp the behavior (S502). Then, the operation characteristic and the time constraint of the object set in advance are confirmed (S503). On the other hand, the acquired position is converted into a region code (S504), the spatial information and the operating characteristic of the region are confirmed (S505), and the past position history profile and the operating characteristic of the region are confirmed (S506). Next, after the above confirmation, the behavior of the object and the operation characteristic / spatial information / time constraint are collated / determined (S507). If the result of the determination is normal / not required, the flow returns to the beginning and the flow is fixed. Repeat every hour. If an abnormality / notification is required, it is determined whether or not to notify various communication devices (S508). If the notification is canceled, the flow returns to the beginning, but if notification is required, the communication device is notified (S509). The notification propriety determination (S508) is performed based on previously set conditions such as the area, the type of determination, the type of operation characteristic, the type of spatial information, and the notification time interval, compared with the previous or previous notification results. Decide whether or not.

Next, FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of processing for determining the presence / absence of an object in spatial information, taking a road as an example. Figure 6
Then, the road is approximated by two straight lines L1 and L2 as spatial information. Each straight line is Y = a1X + b1 or X = c1 and Y =
It is represented by a2X + b2 or X = c2. The starting point and the ending point of each straight line are represented by S1, E1 and S2, E2, and the position of the object is P. FIG. 7 shows a processing flow for determining the presence / absence of an object. First, in S700, the two straight lines are both Y
If the format is not = b, the determination method A is performed (S70
1) Either or both of the two straight lines Y =
When the format is b, the determination method B is performed (S704).
Then, in any of the determination methods, if the condition is satisfied, it is determined that the object is “present” on the road (S702, S705), and if the condition is not satisfied, it is determined as “non-existent” (S703, S706). ). In the determination method A, a straight line passing through the start points S1 and S2 and end points E1 and E2 of the two straight lines L1 and L2 is LS and LE, and a straight line that is parallel to the X axis and the Y axis through the object existence position P is LX and LY.
And Further, the intersections A and B of LX and L1 and L2, the intersections of LY and LS and LE are C and D, and the X coordinate of A and B is Ax.
・ Bx, C ・ D Y coordinate is Cy ・ Dy, P X coordinate ・ Y
The coordinates are Px and Py. Where Ax ≦ Px ≦ Bx,
And Cy ≦ Py ≦ Dy are both satisfied, it is determined that the object exists in the designated space. In the determination method B, the intersections H and I of LX and LS and LE, and LY and LS and LE
Let J and K be the intersection points of, and the X coordinate of H and I be Hx and Ix, R
・ The Y coordinate of S is Jy · Ky. Where Hx ≦ Px
When ≦ Ix and Jy ≦ Py ≦ Ky are both satisfied, it is determined that the object exists in the designated space.

[0021]

EXAMPLE A first example is a security system as shown in FIG. Existence permission range (80
0) and the existence non-permitted range (801) can be set. For example, if it does not exist in the designated permission area (810), if it does not exist in the designated place at the designated time such as a cram school (811), or it exists in the non-permitted area such as a pond or stays in the non-permitted area at the designated time. If the vehicle is present (812), it is determined to be in a car because it is present on the road (81
In 3), notify the security company, contractor, and nearby communication device. On the other hand, if the train is stopped at a designated place such as a cram school at a designated time (814), or if it is determined to be on a train because it is moving on the track (815), no notification is given.

The second embodiment is a notification system for vehicles and persons as shown in FIG. The user selects the bus (90
2) Set a graphic notification area (900) at any place on the route you are operating if you want to fall asleep while not worrying about overtaking the bus, or if you want to shorten the waiting time for getting on the bus. Then, when the bus exists in the notification area, the user is notified that the bus stop location (903) is approaching (904, 905). Further, by setting a notification area (901) around the home by the area code, when the child's return home or the vehicle (906) of the visitor exists in the notification area, the user is notified to that effect (90).
7).

Next, the first and second embodiments will be described together with operation screens. FIG. 10 shows an example of the procedure for registering spatial information. Spatial information is registered on the map displayed on the screen D1000 using the shape palette (1000). For example, when the road information (1001) is registered, the straight line (1002) is selected on the shape palette and both lines of the road are designated on the map (1003). Next, when registering as straight line graphic information, the graphic registration button is pressed (B1000), and when registering as area information (1004) including a straight line, the area registration button (B1001) is pressed. The registered information is stored in the spatial recognition object information database of FIG. 11 and the area code-specific spatial information database of FIG. The spatial recognition object information database stores two straight line identifiers (110
0) is a key, and has a flag (1101) indicating whether it has been registered as a figure or a region. The graphic information has coefficients of two straight lines and XY coordinates of a start point and an end point (1102). The area information has an area code including a straight line (1103). The spatial information database for each area code uses the area code (1200) as a key, and a code (12 indicating the type of spatial information such as a road).
01) and graphic information (1202).

Next, an example of a user area designation method will be described with reference to FIG.
Shown in. First, the designation method is selected on the screen D1300. When you select the location designation (1300), screen D13
In 01, select prefecture (1302), municipality (1303), etc. with text information, and click the search button (B130
1) Press. It is also possible to specify information that can identify the location, such as the postal code. When the map designation (1301) is selected, the location is narrowed down on the screen D1302 by pressing a place on the map with a mouse or a pen (M1300). The designated area is displayed on the screen D1303 by the above designation method, and the registration button (B1302) is pressed.
The registered information is stored in the object existence / nonexistence area information database of FIG.

Further, FIG. 1 shows a method for designating and correcting the existence possibility area.
4 shows. As a designation / correction method, selection / non-selection can be designated by pressing the mouse or pen on the area to be corrected on the screen D1400 (M1400). Also, in the screen D1401, the area is designated by a continuous straight line (M14
The part surrounded by 01) can be designated as the area. It also has means for setting an area by an arbitrary algorithm from the past position history profile.

FIG. 15 shows a method of designating the time constraint and the presence / absence. Generally, in the above-mentioned area designation method, it is assumed that the initial registration is possible for a fixed period or indefinitely and the presence / non-existence thereof is possible. Therefore, if you want to change it, select the area you want to change on the screen D1500 and click the option setting button (B15
00) is pressed. A screen D1501 is displayed, and presence / absence of a time constraint and detailed settings are made. No time constraint (150
In 0), either OK (non-report) or NG (report) is selected, and the registration button (B1501) is pressed. The time constraint (1501) is provided with means for designating time and presence (notification) availability, and further, when it is desired to make detailed settings such as date and day of the week, by pressing the detailed setting button (B1502). The registered information is stored in the object existence / nonexistence area information database of FIG. This database uses an object ID (1600) for identifying a person or a vehicle as a key, a flag (1601) indicating whether or not a time constraint is set for a designated area, and an existence flag (1602) indicating whether or not existence is permitted. ), A designated area (1603), a set time (1604), and the like.

FIG. 17 shows an example of the notification information. Screen D
Information level (1700) and content (170)
Display 1). Level is Caution / Warni
The system automatically selects and displays according to the degree of danger and importance such as ng. When the position confirmation button is pressed, the position history information (1702) can be referred to on the map.

[0028]

[Effects of the Invention] The behavior of an object in a virtual space is grasped, and the situation of the object is notified to a contractor, a security company, a person in the vicinity of the object, etc. in consideration of the area, time, operation characteristics, spatial information, etc. it can. This makes it possible to understand when any object behaves in any way, not only for safety management and security enhancement, but also for understanding bus operation to shorten the waiting time at the bus stop and the visitor. It will be possible to deal quickly with the visits and various usages.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing how to capture a region code.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an area determination processing flow based on an area code.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of a behavior determination process based on a region code.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of spatial information.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of processing for determining the presence of a region based on a figure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a registration method of spatial information.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a space recognition object information database.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a spatial information database for each area code.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an area designating method.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a region designation / correction method.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a time constraint registration method.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a presence / absence area information database for each object.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing notification information.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Communication device 11 Position acquisition communication device 20 GPS satellites 30 relay stations 40 system control communication device 41 Control unit 45 database 50 Notification device

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 5C087 BB20 BB21 BB74 DD05 DD14                       DD49 EE08 FF01 FF02 FF16                       FF19 FF23 GG12                 5H180 AA01 AA21 BB04 BB05 BB17                       EE02 FF01 FF23                 5K067 AA35 BB21 DD19 DD20 FF03                       GG01 GG11 HH22 HH23 LL01                       LL05

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A means for acquiring the position of an object such as a person or a vehicle in the real world by a mobile communication device, a means for expressing an object such as a person or a vehicle in the real world in a virtual space, and the object. Means for setting an arbitrary existence / non-existence area, means for setting a time constraint such as an action schedule for the area, and whether or not an object exists for the area in consideration of the time restriction. And a communication existing near the mobile communication device dynamically extracted by a predetermined communication device or an arbitrary criterion when a notification condition such as an abnormality is satisfied as a result of the determination. Means for notifying the device of an abnormality, information storage means for storing information on the virtual space and the object, and the virtual space by the system control communication device. And the virtual space object monitoring system characterized in that it comprises a means for controlling the information about the object. 2. A means for acquiring the position of an object such as a person or a vehicle in the real world by a mobile communication device, a means for expressing an object such as a person or a vehicle in the real world in a virtual space, and the object. Means for grasping the behavior of the object from the position and displacement of the object, means for setting motion characteristics such as a behavior pattern, route, speed, etc. for the object or any of the object groups, railroads, roadways, etc. The means for setting spatial information that constrains the behavior of objects such as signals, rivers, construction, facilities, and terrain, the means for setting time constraints such as a behavior schedule for the behavior or the motion characteristics, and the behavior of the objects Means for determining whether or not the operation characteristics, the space information, and the time constraint are normal, and the result of the determination, abnormality, etc. Means for notifying a communication device existing in the vicinity of the mobile communication device dynamically extracted by a predetermined communication device or an arbitrary criterion when the condition is satisfied, and the virtual space And information storage means for storing information about the object,
A virtual space object monitoring system, comprising means for controlling information about the virtual space and the object by a system control communication device. 3. A region set to an object in a virtual space, which indicates presence / absence, is a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space subdivided into a grid according to a certain standard, and each divided region has a certain standard. A virtual space object monitoring system, comprising means for giving an area code capable of identifying an area and recognizing the area with the area code. 4. A means for arranging / designating spatial information such as roads / facility on a map in a graphic form such as a line / rectangle, and the designated spatial information for determining whether or not an object exists in the space. A virtual space object monitoring system comprising means for converting and means for storing the conversion information in a corresponding area code according to claim 3.