JP2006295388A - Positional information communication system and positional information communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a positional information communication system whereby a plurality of mobile bodies can accurately and simply share their positional information items with each other. <P>SOLUTION: A positional information communication apparatus 10 with a right to speak of the PoC converts positional information denoting its own position into a voice signal and transmits it, and positional information communication apparatuses 40, 60 having no right to speak receive the voice signal to reproduce the positional information and display a character or a symbol at a position on a map indicated by the positional information. In this system, since the positional information is distributed through half-duplex communication, crosstalk in signals can be prevented and their own positional information items can accurately be delivered between mobile bodies. Further, the communication apparatus uses a PoC function to be able to transmit the positional information to a plurality of speech opposite parties at the same time. Since a communication charge is imposed on the basis of an actual communication amount, the communication apparatus can relieve the load of the communication charge and quickly perform the transmission/reception of the positional information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a position information communication system and apparatus for exchanging position information between mobile objects, and in particular, to easily share current position information among a plurality of mobile objects.

  When a plurality of vehicles travel in a group, the user of each vehicle has a strong desire to know the positions of other vehicles in the group.

  Patent Document 1 below describes a position information communication device devised to meet such a demand. This device is configured by combining a car navigation device of a car and a communication terminal (wireless device, mobile phone, etc.), a position calculation unit that calculates the current position of the vehicle, and a transmission unit that transmits the current position; A receiving unit that receives the current position of the other vehicle, and a display unit that displays a map. The display unit displays the current position of the host vehicle calculated by the position calculating unit and the other vehicle received by the receiving unit. The current position is displayed on the map.

  The transmission unit of this device transmits a character signal representing the current position signal of the host vehicle, “nickname”, and the like together with an identification signal for identifying the host vehicle. On the other hand, the reception unit compares the identification signal included in the reception signal with the identification signal designated in advance, and when they match, the reception unit sends the reception signal to the display unit, and the display unit is included in the reception signal. A character string “nickname” included in the received signal is displayed at a position on the map corresponding to the current position of the other vehicle.

JP-A-8-61963

  However, in the system using this conventional position information communication device, no consideration is given to the communication means and communication method of position information. With a connection using a normal mobile phone, a “one-to-many” call cannot be established, so that location information of one device cannot be transmitted simultaneously to a plurality of other devices belonging to the group. In addition, when position information is transmitted in order to each device in the group, a transmission charge is imposed every time a call is established. In group traveling of vehicles, the exchange of positional information between vehicles is repeated until the destination is reached, so an increase in the burden of outgoing billing cannot be ignored. In addition, it takes time to establish and establish a call. To avoid this, communication charges are wasted if communication connections are kept connected.

  In addition, when position information is distributed by full-duplex communication such as a normal voice telephone or ISDN, there is a possibility that transmission signals of a plurality of devices may interfere with each other, so that demodulated position information may be changed. is there.

  The present invention was devised in view of these points, and an object thereof is to provide a position information communication system and a position information communication apparatus in which a plurality of mobile bodies can share their position information accurately and easily. It is said.

  In the position information communication system of the present invention, the position information communication apparatus having the right to speak in the PTT system converts the position information indicating its own position into a voice signal and transmits it, and does not have the right to speak The communication device receives this audio signal and reproduces the position information.

  In this system, since position information is distributed by half-duplex communication, signal interference can be prevented.

  In the position information communication system of the present invention, the position information communication apparatus transmits or receives an audio signal using the PoC function.

  Therefore, “one-to-many” communication is possible by the PoC function, and packetized voice signals are transferred to one or a plurality of other parties via the IP network.

  Further, in the present invention, the position information communication device includes a self-position detecting unit that detects its own position information, a sound modulation unit that converts the position information into a sound signal, and the sound signal using the PTT call function. And a transmitter for transmitting to the other party.

  When this device obtains the right to speak and transmits location information, other devices can only receive the information.

  In the present invention, the transmission unit of the location information communication apparatus is configured to transmit an audio signal to one or a plurality of other parties using the PoC function.

  The PoC function enables “one-to-many” communication.

  In the position information communication device of the present invention, a PoC transmission button that is pressed when a call is requested and a signal when the PoC transmission button is pressed are periodically generated regardless of the pressing of the PoC transmission button. A transmission button press signal generation unit is provided, and the transmission unit transmits a voice signal to the call partner when the PoC transmission button press signal generation unit generates the signal.

  Therefore, the current position can be automatically transmitted to the members of the group intermittently.

  In the present invention, the receiving unit that receives the audio signal including the location information of the call partner transmitted from the call partner to the position information communication device using the PTT call function, and the call partner by demodulating the audio signal A reception data demodulating section for reproducing the position information and a display section for displaying the position notification information at the position indicated by the position information on the map.

  This device can display the location of the other party on the map.

  In the position information communication apparatus of the present invention, the receiving unit is configured to receive an audio signal using the PoC function.

  This receiving unit receives the location information of the calling party when it does not have the right to speak.

  The position information communication device of the present invention further includes a partner information storage unit for storing the position information reproduced by the received data demodulating unit, and the display unit falls within the predetermined time every time a predetermined time elapses. The position of the position notification information on the map is updated using the position information stored in the partner information storage unit.

  Therefore, the position of the other party on the map is updated at a predetermined time interval.

  In the position information communication system and the position information communication apparatus of the present invention, each position information can be accurately transmitted between moving bodies. Further, the position information can be simultaneously transmitted to a plurality of call partners using the PoC function. In addition, it is possible to quickly transmit and receive position information, and it is possible to reduce the burden of communication charges.

  FIG. 1 shows a location information communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system includes a location information communication device in which navigation devices 20, 50, and 70 are combined with mobile phones 10, 40, and 60 equipped with a PoC function, and a server 80 that provides a PoC service.

  First, PoC (Push-to-Talk over Cellular) will be described.

  PoC is a mobile phone that has a call function (Push-to-Talk; PTT) that allows voice to be exchanged alternately when a speaker pushes a button, such as a transceiver or wireless for business use. There are services in several countries.

  PoC is half-duplex communication in which only a person who has a right to speak (token) can talk. Voice data is exchanged by a packet communication method using an IP network in the same way as VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol).

  When the user selects a call partner from the phone book of the mobile phone 10 equipped with the PoC function and presses the PoC button of the mobile phone 10, a call request is sent to the server 80, and the server 80 receives a session with the call partner. To manage the user's right to speak. Therefore, if the user talks while pressing the PoC button, the story is transmitted to the other party. When listening to the conversation of the other party, the PoC button is released, and the other party presses the PoC button and speaks.

  In PoC, it is possible to select a plurality of call partners, and it can be used like a simultaneous broadcast call or a conference call within a group.

  The location information communication apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention transmits and receives location information using this PoC function.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the location information communication apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention. The mobile phone 10 includes a PoC transmission button 16, a PoC transmission button detection unit 15 that detects that the PoC transmission button 16 is pressed, a telephone directory 14, a connection destination selection unit 13 that selects a call partner, and a PoC function. The PoC processing unit 12 that performs the processing according to the above, the communication control unit 11, and the interface unit 17 with the navigation device 20 are provided.

  The navigation device 20 connected to the mobile phone 10 via a cable 30 or wirelessly includes a map database (DB) 22, a local position detection unit 25 that detects a current position, and a voice modulation unit that modulates position information into a voice signal. 26, a reception data demodulation unit 27 that demodulates position information from the audio signal, a partner information storage unit 24 that stores position information of the communication partner, a display composition unit 23 that synthesizes a display image, and an image display unit 21. , A PoC transmission button pressing signal generation unit 28 that generates a signal when the PoC transmission button is pressed, and an interface unit 29 with the mobile phone 10 are provided.

  The own position detection unit 25 detects the current position using GPS, a gyro, or the like, and outputs the current position information to the display synthesis unit 23 and the audio modulation unit 26.

  The PoC transmission button pressing signal generation unit 28 generates a signal (PoC transmission button pressing signal) similar to that when the PoC transmission button 16 is pressed for a predetermined time intermittently (for example, every 30 seconds). The duration of one PoC transmission button pressing signal is set to a time during which “own position information” described later can be transmitted.

  The PoC transmission button pressing signal is output to the audio modulation unit 26 and the interface unit 29. When the PoC transmission button pressing signal is input, the audio modulation unit 26 generates “local position information” including the latest current position data acquired from the local position detection unit 25 and character string data of the user name and nickname. This is modulated into an audio signal and output to the interface unit 29.

  FIG. 3 shows the data structure of the own position information. This header portion includes a start code indicating the start of the own position information and the data size of the own position information. This self-location information is modulated into an audio signal such as a “beep” in a facsimile, for example, and output to the interface unit 29.

  The interface unit 29 includes an earphone terminal, a USB terminal, or a Bluetooth circuit. The interface unit 29 outputs the PoC transmission button pressing signal input from the PoC transmission button pressing signal generation unit 28 and the own position information input from the audio modulation unit 26 to the mobile phone 10 and input from the mobile phone 10. The reception data, that is, the local position information of the communication partner modulated in the audio signal is output to the reception data demodulation unit 27.

  The received data demodulator 27 measures the reception time of the received data when the received data is input, demodulates the received data, reproduces the local position information of the communication partner, and stores the received time in the partner information storage unit 24 together with the received time. Store.

  FIG. 4 shows the local position information of the communication partner stored in the partner information storage unit 24. The position information expressed by latitude and longitude and the information of the character string indicating the name of the communication partner are recorded together with the reception time. Has been. In the case of this example, the partner information storage unit 24 has seven storage areas for self-location information, of which three self-location information has already been stored.

  The partner information storage unit 24 outputs all recorded self-location information to the display composition unit 23 every time a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) elapses, and clears all storage areas. When more than seven pieces of own position information are received within this fixed time, the newly received data is overwritten on the data with the oldest reception time.

  The display composition unit 23 obtains the current position information output from the own position detection unit 25 and the position information of the communication partner output from the partner information storage unit 24 for the map data acquired from the map DB 22. Synthesize.

  The image display unit 21 displays the image synthesized by the display synthesis unit 23. FIG. 5 shows an example of an image displayed on the image display unit 21. Position notification information including characters including the name of the other party is displayed at the position indicated by the position information of the other party of communication output from the other party information storage unit 24 on the map.

  The interface unit 17 of the mobile phone 10 includes an earphone terminal, a USB terminal, or a Bluetooth circuit. When the PoC transmission button pressing signal and the own position information are input from the navigation device 20, the interface unit 17 outputs the PoC transmission button pressing signal to the PoC transmission button detecting unit 15 and the own position information to the PoC processing unit 12. Further, when received data is input from the PoC processing unit 12, it is output to the navigation device 20.

  When the user presses the PoC transmission button 16, a PoC transmission button pressing signal is input to the PoC transmission button detection unit 15 only during the pressed period.

  When a PoC transmission button pressing signal is input from the PoC transmission button 16 and the interface unit 17, the PoC transmission button detection unit 15 outputs a detection signal to the PoC processing unit 12.

  The PoC processing unit 12 performs a process of sending the local position information input from the interface unit 17 to the communication control unit 11 only during a period in which the PoC transmission button detection unit 15 detects the PoC transmission button pressing signal, and the PoC transmission button During a period when the detection unit 15 does not detect the PoC transmission button pressing signal, a process of sending the reception data sent from the communication control unit 11 to the navigation device 20 is performed.

  When the user displays the communication partner stored in the phone book 14 on the screen of the mobile phone 10 and designates the communication partner, the connection destination selection unit 13 selects the designated communication partner as the connection destination.

  The communication control unit 11 sends the voice data to the PoC processing unit 12 when the voice data is received from the IP network, and when the voice data is sent from the PoC processing unit 12, the connection destination selection unit 13 selects the voice data. To the other communication partner.

  The flowchart of FIG. 6 shows an operation procedure when transmitting the own position information from the position information communication apparatus to the communication partner.

  The user searches the telephone directory 14 to select a PoC connection partner and presses the PoC transmission button 16. The PoC transmission button detection unit 15 detects this and sends a detection signal of a PoC transmission button pressing signal to the PoC processing unit 12, and the PoC processing unit 12 displays the information on the other party of the call selected by the connection destination selection unit 13. Then, the data is transmitted to the server 80 through the communication control unit 11 to make a call request (step S1).

  When the “intermittent waiting time” indicating the transmission interval of the own position information elapses (step S2; YES), the PoC transmission button pressing signal generation unit 28 outputs a PoC transmission button pressing signal, and the voice modulation unit 26 that receives this signal However, the local position information is acquired from the local position detection unit 25 and converted into a sound signal (step S3).

  Based on the PoC transmission button press signal sent from the navigation device 20, the PoC processing unit 12 transmits the own position information modulated into the audio signal to the connection partner while making a PoC call (step S4).

  The processes in steps S2 to S4 are repeated until, for example, all the groups arrive at the destination and the sharing of the position information is completed (step S5). Of course, sharing of position information also ends when the use of the PoC service is stopped or when the cable 30 is pulled out from the mobile phone 10 or the navigation device 20.

  Further, the flowchart of FIG. 7 shows an operation procedure when the position information communication apparatus receives the own position information of the connection partner.

  A session with the connection partner is established in the process of step S1 in FIG. When the own location information of the connection partner is received by PoC (step S11; YES), the reception data demodulator 27 to which the received information is transferred demodulates the partner location and the character string from the voice signal, and the partner information It preserve | saves at the memory | storage part 24 (step S12).

  When the “intermittent waiting time” indicating the display update period of the partner position has elapsed (step S13; YES), all of the connection partner positions and character strings stored in the partner information storage unit 24 are transferred to the display composition unit 23, The storage area of partner information storage unit 24 is cleared (step S14). The display combining unit 23 combines the transferred connection partner position and character string on the map, and the image display unit 21 displays a map showing the latest connection partner position (step S15).

  The processes in steps S11 to S15 are repeated until the sharing of the position information ends (step S16).

  FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the reception time of the connection partner's own position information and the time of updating the connection partner's position display. Here, both the waiting time for calling out the own location and the waiting time for updating the display are set to 30 seconds. Based on the location information of the connecting partner received during this waiting time, the position display of the connecting partner is displayed. Is updated every 30 seconds. In addition, the own position information of all the connection partners (three persons) is received during the 30-second waiting period, and the position display is updated.

  As described above, this position information communication apparatus transmits and receives position information to one or a plurality of opponents using the PoC function. In PTT half-duplex communication, there is no mixing of audio signals, so this apparatus can accurately convey information.

  Further, the position information converted into a voice signal by this device is packetized and transmitted on the IP network. Unlike the case of line connection, the communication fee at this time is charged based on the amount of data actually communicated. Therefore, the burden of the communication fee can be suppressed by sending location information intermittently. Further, as long as the server 80 provides the PoC service, the present invention can be realized only with the existing IP network.

  Further, in this position information communication apparatus, the received position information is laid out on the screen as it is, and complicated processing for individually identifying the position information transmission source is not performed. Therefore, the configuration is very simple.

  In the embodiment, the navigation device 20 and the mobile phone 10 are connected to each other by a cable 30 or wirelessly. However, each part of the navigation device 20 and the mobile phone 10 is incorporated in one housing to constitute a position information communication device. You may do it. That is, the position information communication device is composed of a mobile phone with a navigation function.

  Moreover, although the character string is included in the own position information to be transmitted and received, this is not essential. When there is no character string as position notification information, only the position of the other party is displayed on the image display unit 21, but at least it is possible to distinguish itself from others. In addition, information such as symbols, other characters, and caricatures may be transmitted and received as position notification information instead of character strings.

  Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the matters shown in the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art can make modifications and applications based on the description and well-known techniques. This is also the scope of the present invention, and is included in the scope of seeking protection.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is extremely useful as a system in which moving bodies that move by car, bicycle, walking, etc. share a mutual position, a device for that, and the like.

The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the positional information communication system in embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the positional information communication apparatus in embodiment of this invention. Data configuration diagram of self-location information in the embodiment of the present invention The figure which shows the data storage state in the other party information storage part in embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the display of the image display part in embodiment of this invention The flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of transmission of the positional information communication apparatus in embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of reception of the positional information communication apparatus in embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the relationship between reception of the own position information of the positional information communication apparatus in embodiment of this invention, and display update.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mobile phone 11 equipped with PoC function Communication control part 12 PoC processing part 13 Connection destination selection part 14 Phonebook 15 PoC transmission button detection part 16 PoC transmission button 17 Interface part 20 Navigation apparatus 21 Image display part 22 Map DB
23 Display composition unit 24 Partner information storage unit 25 Local position detection unit 26 Audio modulation unit 27 Received data demodulation unit 28 PoC transmission button press signal generation unit 29 Interface unit 30 Cable 40 Mobile phone with PoC function 50 Navigation device 60 Mobile device with PoC function Telephone 70 Navigation device 80 Server

Claims (8)

  A location information communication device having a right to speak in a PTT system converts the location information indicating its own position into a voice signal and transmits the voice signal, and a location information communication device not having the right to speak transmits the voice signal. A position information communication system that receives and reproduces the position information. The location information communication system according to claim 1,
A location information communication system in which the location information communication device transmits or receives the audio signal using a PoC function. A self-position detector that detects self-position information;
An audio modulation unit for converting the position information into an audio signal;
A transmission unit for transmitting the audio signal to a call partner using a PTT call function;
A position information communication apparatus comprising: The position information communication device according to claim 3,
The positional information communication apparatus in which the transmission unit transmits the audio signal to one or a plurality of call partners using a PoC function. The position information communication device according to claim 4,
A PoC transmission button that is pressed when a call is requested;
A PoC transmission button pressing signal generation unit that periodically generates a signal when the PoC transmission button is pressed regardless of the pressing of the PoC transmission button;
The transmission unit is a position information communication device that transmits the voice signal to the call partner when the signal is generated by the PoC transmission button press signal generation unit. A receiver for receiving a voice signal including the location information of the other party, transmitted from the other party using the PTT calling function;
A received data demodulator that demodulates the audio signal and reproduces the location information of the other party;
And a display unit that displays position notification information at a position indicated by the position information on a map. The position information communication device according to claim 6,
The positional information communication apparatus in which the receiving unit receives the audio signal using a PoC function. The position information communication device according to claim 6,
A counterpart information storage unit for storing the position information reproduced by the reception data demodulation unit;
The display unit updates the position of the position notification information on a map using the position information stored in the partner information storage unit within the predetermined time each time a predetermined time elapses .

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