JP2017111001A - Terminal and geofence determination method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique that reduces a time and power required for positioning of a terminal and increases the degree of freedom of a positioning place of the terminal.SOLUTION: A terminal comprises: reception means for receiving radio signals including positioning signals from navigation satellites and demodulating the positioning signals; and control means for calculating a positioning result of the terminal on the basis of the positioning signals from the navigation satellites the number of which is three or less, and determining whether the terminal is either inside or outside a particular area on the basis of a comparison result of the positioning result with positional information on the particular area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a geofencing technique, and more particularly to a geofencing determination method and a terminal capable of using a navigation satellite positioning system.

  Geo-fencing is a technology that makes it possible to notify a user of a terminal that the moving terminal has entered a specific area or to send it to the outside. In geo-fencing, it is determined whether a terminal exists in an area defined by a virtual fence (geo fence) based on the position information of the terminal. The terminal position information is acquired using, for example, a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). In positioning using GNSS, the position of the terminal can be specified as a single point by acquiring signals from four or more GNSS satellites and determining the pseudoranges between the terminal and each GNSS satellite.

  In relation to the present invention, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 describe techniques related to terminal position detection by geofencing.

JP-T-2015-523806 Special table 2012-524901 gazette

  In geo-fencing, a terminal periodically positions itself in order to check whether the terminal has crossed a geofence (ie, a boundary of a specific area). Then, based on the positioning result of the terminal and the information on the area of the specific area, the terminal determines whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area. In order to make such a determination at any time and accurately, it is necessary to receive radio waves from as many GNSS satellites as possible, and to increase the frequency of positioning, which causes a problem that the power consumption of the terminal increases as the positioning is performed. .

  Also, in the valleys of high-rise buildings in urban areas (so-called urban canyons), there are cases where a sufficient number of GNSS satellites cannot be captured for accurate positioning. Arise.

Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not disclose a technique for solving these problems.
(Object of invention)
An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for reducing the time and power required for positioning of a terminal and increasing the degree of freedom of the positioning location of the terminal.

  The terminal of the present invention receives a radio signal including a positioning signal from a navigation satellite, calculates a positioning result of the terminal based on a receiving means for demodulating the positioning signal and positioning signals from three or less navigation satellites, Control means for determining whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on the comparison result between the result and the position information of the specific area.

  The geofencing determination method of the present invention receives a radio signal including a positioning signal from a navigation satellite, demodulates the positioning signal, calculates a positioning result of the terminal based on positioning signals from three or less navigation satellites, It is characterized in that it is determined whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on a comparison result between the result and position information of the specific area.

  The terminal program of the present invention provides a terminal computer with a procedure for receiving a radio signal including a positioning signal from a navigation satellite, a procedure for demodulating the positioning signal, and positioning the terminal based on positioning signals from three or less navigation satellites. A procedure for calculating the result and a procedure for determining whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on the comparison result between the positioning result and the position information of the specific area are executed.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can reduce the time and power required for positioning of the terminal, and has the effect of increasing the degree of freedom of the positioning location of the terminal.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the geofencing system of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the function of geofencing. It is a figure explaining the positioning of a terminal using only one satellite. It is a figure explaining the positioning of a terminal using only one satellite. It is a figure explaining the positioning of a terminal using two satellites. It is a figure explaining the positioning of a terminal using two satellites. It is a figure explaining the positioning of a terminal using two satellites. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the operation | movement procedure of a terminal. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the geofencing system of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the operation | movement procedure of the geofencing system of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the terminal of 3rd Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
The geofencing system of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the function of geofencing is provided in a terminal application program (hereinafter referred to as “application”). When the terminal enters a specific area, the application notifies the user that the terminal has entered the area.

(Configuration of the first embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a geofencing system 100 according to the first embodiment of this invention. The geofencing system 100 includes a GNSS satellite 10 and a terminal 20. A GNSS satellite (hereinafter simply referred to as “satellite”) 10 is a satellite that emits radio waves including a signal (positioning signal) used for positioning. The terminal 20 includes an antenna 21, a receiver 22, and a control unit 23. The terminal 20 is, for example, a smartphone having a positioning function using the satellite 10.

  The antenna 21 receives radio waves from one or more satellites 10 and sends the received signals to the receiver 22. The receiver 22 demodulates the received signal to generate a positioning signal as a signal that can be processed by the control unit 23, and sends the generated positioning signal to the control unit 23. The receiver 22 is, for example, an integrated circuit chip having a function of receiving a signal from the satellite 10.

  The control unit 23 includes hardware for realizing the functions of an OS (Operation System) 24 and an application 25. The OS 24 is an operation system of a computer that controls the terminal 20. The application 25 is a computer program that is executed on the OS 24.

  The functions of the OS 24 and the application 25 are realized by hardware provided in the control unit 23. The hardware included in the control unit 23 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a recording device, and peripheral circuits thereof. The recording device records a program executed by the CPU. The control unit 23 may control the receiver 22.

  The application 25 performs positioning of the terminal 20 based on the positioning signal from the satellite 10 notified from the OS 24. Then, the application 25 executes the function of geofencing based on the positioning result and the position information of the specific area recorded on the terminal 20. The recording device can record position information of a specific area. The positioning result and the position information of the specific area are both coordinate data. Therefore, by comparing the two, the terminal 20 can know the positional relationship between the terminal 20 and the specific area.

(Operation of the first embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the function of geofencing. The user 30 carries the terminal 20. When the user 30 starts the application 25 of the terminal 20, geofencing is started. The application 25 periodically performs positioning of the terminal 20 based on the signal received from the satellite 10 and determines whether the terminal 20 is inside or outside the specific area 300. The specific area 300 is an area in which the range of the area is defined in advance. The specific area 300 is an area corresponding to the position of a park or a stadium, for example. Information on the area of the specific area is recorded in the terminal 20 in a format in which the position of the positioning result of the terminal 20 can be compared. When the user 30 enters the specific area 300, the application 25 notifies the user 30 to that effect.

  In a general positioning procedure, the terminal 20 specifies the position of the terminal 20 as one point by acquiring a pseudo distance between four or more satellites 10 and performing a positioning calculation. Then, the terminal 20 determines whether the position is inside or outside the specific area 300. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the number of satellites 10 used for positioning is gradually increased. In the following description, determining whether the terminal is located inside or outside the specific area 300 is referred to as “area determination”.

  3 and 4 are diagrams for explaining positioning of the terminal 20 using only one satellite 10. FIG. 3 shows a case where the positioning result does not overlap with a specific area 300. FIG. 4 shows a case where the positioning result overlaps with a specific area 300.

  The terminal 20 initially acquires a pseudorange of only one satellite 10. The terminal 20 calculates a position where the terminal 20 can exist based on the pseudo distance. When the position of the terminal 20 is measured using only one satellite 10, the positioning result indicating the position where the terminal 20 can exist is any one on the spherical surface. And the terminal 20 determines whether a positioning result and a specific area overlap.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the positioning result does not overlap with the area of the specific area 300, the terminal 20 determines that the terminal 20 is outside the specific area 300. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when the positioning result overlaps with the specific area 300, the terminal 20 determines that the terminal 20 may be inside the specific area 300.

  When the positioning result of the terminal 20 by one satellite 10 overlaps with the specific area 300, the terminal acquires a pseudo distance from the second satellite. By acquiring pseudo distances from two satellites, the terminal can obtain an LOP (Line of Position) as a positioning result. The LOP is a substantially linear area where a terminal may exist. The terminal determines whether the determined LOP overlaps with the specific area 300.

  5 to 7 are diagrams for describing positioning of the terminal 20 using two satellites 10. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the difference in positioning results between the case where the number of satellites 10 used for positioning is one and the case where there are two satellites. When the positioning of the terminal 20 is performed using one satellite 10, the position of the terminal 20 is obtained as being on a spherical surface indicated by an arc-shaped broken line in FIG. When the positioning of the terminal 20 is performed using the two satellites 10, the position of the terminal 20 is obtained within the area indicated by the LOP 250.

  FIG. 6 shows a case where the LOP 250 does not overlap with the specific area 300. In this case, it is determined that the terminal 20 is outside the specific area 300. FIG. 7 shows a case where the LOP 250 overlaps with a specific area 300. In this case, it is determined that the terminal 20 may be inside the specific area 300. By setting the number of satellites used for positioning to three or four, the position of the terminal 20 can be obtained more accurately, so that the area determination accuracy improves as the number of satellites used for positioning increases. In general, positioning using four satellites accurately determines the coordinates of the terminal space and the time in the system.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the terminal 20 in the present embodiment. The terminal 20 first acquires a pseudorange of only one satellite 10 (step S01 in FIG. 8). The terminal 20 checks whether or not the positioning result spherical surface and the specific area 300 overlap (step S02). When the spherical surface of the positioning result does not overlap with the specific area 300, the terminal 20 determines that it is outside the specific area 300 (step S02 to step S10). On the other hand, when the spherical surface of the positioning result overlaps with the specific area 300, the terminal 20 determines that there is a possibility that the terminal 20 is inside the specific area 300 (step S02 to step S03).

  The terminal 20 acquires a pseudo distance from the second satellite (step S03). In step S03, the terminal 20 calculates the LOP based on the pseudo distance. Then, the terminal 20 checks whether or not the LOP overlaps with the specific area 300 (Step S04). If the LOP does not overlap with the specific area 300 in step S04, the terminal 20 determines that it is outside the specific area 300 (step S04 to step S10). When the LOP overlaps with the specific area 300, the terminal 20 determines that there is a possibility that the terminal 20 is inside the specific area 300 (step S04 to step S05).

  If the positioning result of the terminal 20 overlaps with the specific area 300 in step S04, the terminal 20 further increases the number of satellites used for positioning as shown in steps S05 to S08.

  The procedure from step S05 to step S08 differs from the steps S01 to S04 in the number of satellites 10 used for positioning. However, the basic procedure of calculating an area where the terminal 20 may exist based on the pseudo distance with the satellite 10 and performing area determination based on whether or not there is an overlap with the specific area 300 is from step S01. It is the same as S04. In step S06 and step S08, as in step S02 and step S04, when the positioning result based on the pseudo distance obtained so far does not overlap with the specific area 300, the terminal 20 moves outside the specific area 300. It is judged that there is.

  The terminal 20 can specify the position of the terminal 20 at one point by acquiring pseudo distances from four or more GNSS satellites 10. In step S <b> 08, when the position of the identified terminal 20 overlaps with the specific area 300, it is determined that the terminal 20 is inside the specific area 300. That is, if the position of the terminal 20 is within the specific area 300 as a result of the area determination in the four satellites 10 in step S08, it is determined that the terminal 20 is in the specific area (step S09).

  By setting the number of satellites used for positioning to three or four, the position of the terminal 20 becomes more accurate, and the accuracy of area determination is improved. Further, the positioning procedure of the terminal 20 when the number of satellites is three or more is generally known. The terminal 20 may perform positioning based on pseudo distances with five or more satellites 10.

  The area determination may be started not from reception of one satellite 10 (step S01) but from reception of two or three satellites 10. For example, in FIG. 8, step S02 may be omitted, or steps S02 and S04 may be omitted.

  If the number of receivable satellites 10 cannot be increased, the terminal 20 determines whether the terminal 20 is inside or outside the specific area 300 based on the result of area determination at the nearest time point. May be.

  In the present embodiment, the area determination is described as being performed by the application 25. However, if the application 25 can finally know the result of the area determination, any of the application 25, the OS 24, and the receiver 22 may perform the area determination. When it is determined that the terminal 20 is in the specific area 300, the application 25 notifies the user that the terminal 20 is in the specific area 300. This notification may be performed by an alarm sound or a display on the terminal 20, for example.

(Explanation of effect)
The geofencing system 100 of the first embodiment described above has the following effects.

  The first effect is that the time and power required for positioning the terminal can be reduced. The reason is that even if the number of satellites captured by the terminal when using it for positioning is one to three, it can be determined that the terminal is outside a specific area.

  The second effect is that the degree of freedom of the location of the terminal is increased. The reason is that it can be determined at least out of the area by capturing a small number of satellites. In an environment in which high-rise buildings are lined up (Urban Canyon), a building enters between the satellite and the terminal, so that only signals from satellites with a high elevation angle may be received. In such a case, the number of satellites that can be captured is limited. According to the present embodiment, it can be determined that the terminal is outside a specific area even in an urban canyon environment or in an environment where there are few satellites that can be captured.

  As described above, the geofencing system 100 according to the present embodiment can determine early that a terminal is outside a specific area, and can reduce power required for positioning the terminal. Furthermore, when the terminal captures four or more satellites, it can be reliably determined that the terminal is in a specific area.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the geofencing system 500 according to the second embodiment of this invention. In the second embodiment, an embodiment of a service that allows a third party to receive a notification when a terminal enters a specific area will be described.

  The geofencing system 500 of the second embodiment includes a GNSS satellite 10, a terminal 20, a SUPL Agent 60, and an SLP 70. In the geofencing system 500, the third party is notified when the terminal 20 carried by the user 30 enters the area. The GNSS satellite 10 and the terminal 20 are the same as the GNSS satellite 10 and the terminal 20 of the first embodiment. SUPL means Secure User Plane Location, and SLP means SUPL Location Platform. In the present embodiment, using the SUPL Triggering Function function of the SUPL 2.0 protocol defined by OMA (Open Mobile Alliance), the third party 40 is notified when the terminal 20 enters the area. It is possible.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the geofencing system 500. A third party designates the identification number and area of the terminal 20 to the SUPL Agent 60 (step S21 in FIG. 10). The identification number of the terminal 20 is, for example, MSISDN (Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number: telephone number). When the SUPL Agent 60 requests the SLP 70 to perform geofencing (step S22), the SLP 70 issues a geofencing start request to the terminal 20 (step S23). The terminal 20 performs area determination using one or more satellites 10 in the same procedure as in the first embodiment (step S24). The terminal 20 notifies the area determination result to the SLP 70 (step S25). The terminal 20 may notify the area determination result to the SLP 70 when the terminal 20 crosses a specific area boundary, that is, when the result of the area determination changes. The SLP 70 notifies the SUPL Agent 60 of the area determination result received from the terminal 20 (step S26). The SUPL Agent 60 notifies the third party 40 of the area determination result received from the SLP 70 (step S27).

  The geofencing system 500 having such a configuration also performs terminal area determination in the same procedure as in the first embodiment. As a result, the geofencing system 500 can reduce the time and power required for the positioning of the terminal 20 in the service for notifying the third party 40 that the terminal 20 has entered the specific area, and the positioning of the terminal 20 There is an effect that the degree of freedom of the place is increased.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a terminal 600 according to the third embodiment of this invention. In the third embodiment, the function of the terminal 20 described in the first embodiment is described as the function of the terminal 600.

  Referring to FIG. 11, terminal 600 includes a receiving unit 601 and a control unit 602. The receiving unit 601 receives a positioning signal from the navigation satellite and demodulates the received positioning signal. The navigation satellite is, for example, a GNSS satellite.

  The control unit 602 calculates a positioning result of the terminal 600 based on positioning signals from three or less navigation satellites. Then, the control unit 602 determines whether the terminal 600 is inside or outside the specific area based on the comparison result between the positioning result and the position information of the specific area.

  The receiving unit 601 corresponds to the antenna 21 and the receiver 22 of the terminal 20 of the first embodiment. The control unit 602 corresponds to the control unit 23 of the first embodiment, and realizes the functions of the OS 24 and the application 25 of the terminal 20.

  The terminal 600 of the third embodiment calculates a positioning result based on positioning signals from three or less navigation satellites, and determines whether the terminal 600 is inside or outside a specific area. As a result, the terminal 600 has the same effect as that of the first embodiment, that is, the time and power required for positioning of the terminal can be reduced, and the degree of freedom of the positioning location of the terminal can be increased.

  Embodiments of the present invention can be described as the following supplementary notes, but are not limited thereto.

(Appendix 1)
Receiving means for receiving a radio signal including a positioning signal from a navigation satellite and demodulating the positioning signal;
The terminal positioning result is calculated based on positioning signals from three or less navigation satellites, and the terminal is either inside or outside the specific area based on the comparison result between the positioning result and the position information of the specific area. Control means for determining whether or not
A terminal equipped with.

(Appendix 2)
The control means calculates the position of the terminal as a spherical surface based on a positioning signal from one navigation satellite, and based on the comparison result between the spherical surface and the position information of the specific area, the terminal detects whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area. The terminal described in Appendix 1, which determines which one is present.

(Appendix 3)
The control means calculates the position of the terminal as a LOP (Line of Position) based on the positioning signals from the two navigation satellites, and the terminal detects the specific area based on the comparison result between the LOP and the position information of the specific area. The terminal described in appendix 1 or 2, which determines whether the terminal is inside or outside.

(Appendix 4)
When it is determined that the terminal is inside the specific area, the control unit recalculates the terminal position by increasing the number of navigation satellites, and recalculates the position of the terminal and the specific area position information. The terminal according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, wherein the terminal determines whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on the comparison result.

(Appendix 5)
A geofencing system comprising: a navigation satellite; and a terminal described in any one of appendices 1 to 4, wherein the terminal calculates a position of the terminal based on a signal from the navigation satellite.

(Appendix 6)
further,
SLP (SUPL Location Platform) that sends a geofencing start request to the terminal and receives the area determination result from the terminal,
Instruct the SLP to send a geofencing start request, receive the area determination result from the SLP, and output it to the outside. SUPL Agent (Secure User Plane Location Agent),
A geofencing system as described in appendix 5.

(Appendix 7)
Receive radio signals including positioning signals from navigation satellites,
Demodulate the positioning signal,
Calculate the positioning results of the terminal based on positioning signals from three or less navigation satellites,
Determine whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on the comparison result between the positioning result and the position information of the specific area,
Geofence determination method.

(Appendix 8)
further,
Based on the positioning signal from one navigation satellite, the position of the terminal is calculated as a sphere,
Determine whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on the comparison result between the spherical surface and the position information of the specific area.
The geofence determination method described in appendix 7.

(Appendix 9)
further,
Based on the positioning signals from the two navigation satellites, the position of the terminal is calculated as LOP (Line of Position)
Determine whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on the comparison result between the LOP and the location information of the specific area.
The geofence determination method described in appendix 7 or 8.

(Appendix 10)
further,
If it ’s determined that the device is inside a particular area, increase the number of navigation satellites to recalculate the location of the device,
Determining whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on a comparison result between the recalculated terminal position and the specific area position information;
The geofence determination method according to any one of appendices 7 to 9.

(Appendix 11)
On the terminal computer,
Procedures for receiving radio signals including positioning signals from navigation satellites,
The procedure for demodulating the positioning signal,
A procedure for calculating the positioning result of the terminal based on positioning signals from three or less navigation satellites,
A procedure for determining whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on the comparison result between the positioning result and the position information of the specific area,
Terminal program to execute

(Appendix 12)
A procedure for calculating the position of the terminal as a spherical surface based on a positioning signal from one navigation satellite;
A procedure for determining whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on the comparison result between the spherical surface and the position information of the specific area,
The terminal program according to appendix 11, further comprising:

(Appendix 13)
A procedure for calculating the position of the terminal as LOP (Line of Position) based on positioning signals from two navigation satellites,
A procedure for determining whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on the comparison result between the LOP and the position information of the specific area,
The terminal program described in appendix 11 or 12, further comprising:

(Appendix 14)
If it is determined that the terminal is inside a specific area, the procedure for recalculating the position of the terminal by increasing the number of navigation satellites,
A procedure for determining whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on a comparison result between the recalculated position of the terminal and the position information of the specific area,
The terminal program according to any one of appendices 11 to 13, further comprising:

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

  Further, the configurations described in the respective embodiments are not necessarily mutually exclusive. The operation and effect of the present invention may be realized by a configuration in which all or part of the above-described embodiments are combined.

100, 500 Geofencing system 10 GNSS satellite 20, 600 Terminal 21 Antenna 22 Receiver 23, 602 Control unit 24 OS
25 Application 30 User 40 Third party 60 SUPL Agent
70 SLP
250 LOP
300 Specific area 601 Receiver

Claims (10)

Receiving means for receiving a radio signal including a positioning signal from a navigation satellite and demodulating the positioning signal;
A positioning result of the terminal is calculated based on the positioning signals from the three or less navigation satellites, and the terminal is connected to the inside of the specific area based on the comparison result between the positioning result and position information of the specific area. Control means for determining which one is external;
A terminal equipped with.   The control means calculates the position of the terminal as a spherical surface based on the positioning signal from one navigation satellite, and the terminal determines whether the terminal is based on a comparison result between the spherical surface and position information of the specific area. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the terminal determines whether it is inside or outside a specific area.   The control means calculates the position of the terminal as an LOP (Line of Position) based on the positioning signals from the two navigation satellites, and based on a comparison result between the LOP and position information of the specific area. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the terminal determines whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area.   When the control means determines that the terminal is inside the specific area, the control means recalculates the position of the terminal by increasing the number of the navigation satellites, and recalculates the position of the terminal. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the terminal determines whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on a comparison result with position information of the specific area.   A geofencing system comprising: a navigation satellite; and a terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the terminal calculates a position of the terminal based on a signal from the navigation satellite. further,
SLP (SUPL Location Platform) that transmits a geofencing start request to the terminal and receives an area determination result from the terminal;
Instructing the SLP to transmit the geofencing start request, and receiving the area determination result from the SLP and outputting the result to the outside, a SUPL Agent (Secure User Plane Location Agent);
A geofencing system as claimed in claim 5. Receive radio signals including positioning signals from navigation satellites,
Demodulate the positioning signal,
Calculate the positioning result of the terminal based on the positioning signals from three or less navigation satellites,
Determining whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on a comparison result between the positioning result and position information of the specific area;
Geofence determination method. further,
Calculating the position of the terminal as a spherical surface based on the positioning signal from one of the navigation satellites;
It is determined whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on a comparison result between the spherical surface and the position information of the specific area.
The geofence determination method according to claim 7. On the terminal computer,
Procedures for receiving radio signals including positioning signals from navigation satellites,
A procedure for demodulating the positioning signal;
A procedure for calculating a positioning result of the terminal based on the positioning signals from three or less navigation satellites;
A procedure for determining whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on a comparison result between the positioning result and position information of the specific area,
Terminal program to execute A procedure for calculating the position of the terminal as a spherical surface based on the positioning signal from one of the navigation satellites;
A procedure for determining whether the terminal is inside or outside the specific area based on a comparison result between the spherical surface and position information of the specific area.
The terminal program according to claim 9, further comprising:

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