JP2001074826A - Positioning system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prolong the life of the battery of a positioning instrument, and to miniaturize the instrument. SOLUTION: The positioning instrument 1 is provided with a radio data transmission and reception part 26 which permits data communication by radio separately from a GPS part 12 which measures the current position according to a radio wave received from a GPS satellite. The radio data transmission and reception part 26 receives the latest ephemeris from another position measuring instrument or a base station device periodically or as required and measures the position by the GPS part 12 in a short time by using it. Further, timing data showing the timing of the reception from the satellite is received together with the ephemeris and the timing of reception at the time of the measurement is synchronized with the timing of the data transmission by the satellite according to the received timing data to make the measurement time shorter. Further, the radio data transmission and reception part 26 receives measurement data on another positioning instrument of the same kind by which a user has the same behavior to perform positioning of lower power consumption using received data as its own measurement data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the present invention
The present invention relates to a positioning system configured by a positioning device that receives a radio wave transmitted from a positioning satellite such as a satellite and measures a current position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in position measurement using GPS, the approximate position of each GPS satellite is known based on a satellite message called ephemeris or almanac which is transmitted on radio waves from each GPS satellite. At the time of position measurement, the acquisition time of each GPS satellite, that is, the time required for synchronizing the reception timing with the transmission timing of the C / A code sent from each satellite (satellite supplementary time) is reduced, thereby shortening the time. Position measurement is possible.

[0003] Ephemeris is detailed information such as orbital information of the transmitting satellite itself and clock correction information, and is constantly updated, and can be obtained in about 30 seconds. On the other hand, almanac is information on the approximate orbits of all satellites, and is effective for a long period of time if there is no satellite failure, but it takes 12 to 13 minutes to acquire it. For this reason, in the positioning device, the ephemeris and the almanac once obtained are stored in the memory, and the ephemeris is, for example, valid for about two hours.
After passing, position measurement is performed to obtain the latest ephemeris. Thereby, if the ephemeris is effective and the reception condition of the radio wave is good, the position measurement can be performed in about 15 seconds. Also, when ephemeris is invalid, position measurement takes about 30 seconds to acquire ephemeris and about 15 seconds to synchronize the reception timing with the data of each satellite, so a measurement time of about 45 seconds is required. ing.

[0004]

However, when the above-mentioned positioning device is of a portable type and operated using a battery as a power source, a relatively large current is required for receiving satellite information and the like at the time of position measurement. In addition, as described above, the ephemeris has a shorter effective time than the almanac, and it is necessary to measure about 45 seconds each time the effective time expires. In addition, in the case of a portable positioning device, the reception status of radio waves is often poor at the time of measurement, and in such a case, the positioning time becomes longer each time. There was a problem that was significant. In order to compensate for this, when the capacity of the battery is increased, there is a problem that the size of the device is increased and portability is impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a positioning system capable of extending the battery life of a positioning device and reducing the size of the device.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmitting and receiving apparatus having a wireless transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting satellite data received from a satellite. Wireless receiving means for wirelessly receiving satellite data transmitted from the transmitting / receiving device, and storage means for storing satellite data received by the wireless receiving means;
A positioning device comprising: receiving means for receiving data from a satellite; and a measuring device for measuring a current position using data received by the receiving means and satellite data stored in the storage means. System. According to this configuration, the positioning device can perform position measurement without directly receiving satellite data from the satellite, and thus can perform position measurement in a short time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the satellite data is accompanied by synchronization information indicating the reception timing of the satellite data, and the receiving means of the positioning device receives the synchronization information indicated by the synchronization information. A positioning system was used to receive data from satellites using timing. According to this configuration, the positioning device does not need to perform a synchronization operation when receiving data from the satellite, and thus can perform position measurement in a shorter time.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3, the positioning device includes a wireless transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting the satellite data acquired by the receiving means to the transmitting / receiving device, and the transmitting / receiving device comprises: The positioning system was provided with wireless receiving means for receiving satellite data transmitted from the positioning device. According to such a configuration, satellite data acquired by a certain positioning device can be shared by a plurality of other positioning devices that have received the satellite data via the transmission / reception device.

Further, in the invention according to claim 4, the transmission / reception device is a positioning system provided with a receiving means for receiving satellite data from a satellite. According to this configuration, the transmission / reception device can independently acquire satellite data.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, satellite data received by the positioning device from the transmitting / receiving device includes:
The positioning system includes satellite data of a satellite that does not exist in the field of view of the positioning device. According to such a configuration, even when the positioning device moves after receiving the satellite data from the transmission / reception device, the positioning device does not newly perform the reception operation, and does not directly receive the satellite data from the satellite, so that the positioning device can be operated in a short time. The probability of position measurement is increased.

Further, in the invention according to claim 6, the transmission / reception device is a positioning system for periodically transmitting satellite data to the positioning device. According to such a configuration, since the measurement device can always hold new satellite data,
Position measurement can always be performed in a short time and reliably.

Further, in the invention according to claim 7, the positioning device includes request signal transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting a request signal for requesting transmission of satellite data to the transmitting / receiving device, wherein the transmitting / receiving device comprises: With request signal receiving means for receiving a request signal transmitted from the positioning device,
The positioning system transmits satellite data corresponding to the position of the positioning device to the positioning device that has transmitted the request signal received by the request signal receiving means. In such a configuration, satellite data and the like can be received only when the positioning device requires it, and unnecessary communication between the positioning device and the transmitting / receiving device can be eliminated.

[0013] The invention according to claim 8 is provided with a measuring means for measuring a current position based on data received from a satellite, and a communication means for mutually transmitting and receiving data held by the wireless communication apparatus. And a positioning system including a plurality of positioning devices. In such a configuration, various data held by a certain positioning device can be shared by another positioning device.

Further, in the invention of claim 9, the stored data is measurement data of each of the positioning devices. In such a configuration, in a plurality of positioning devices located close to each other or a plurality of positioning devices in which the user is performing the same action, the positioning device can acquire its own current position without performing position measurement.

[0015] In the invention of claim 10, the retained data is the measurement data determined based on the measurement data and the reception status of data from a satellite at the time of position measurement at which the measurement data was acquired. It was determined that the data was valid. According to such a configuration, it is possible to know the validity of data shared by a plurality of positioning devices.

Further, in the invention according to claim 11, each of the positioning devices has a control means for processing measurement data having the highest validity indicated by the received judgment data as its own measurement data. did. According to this configuration, only highly effective position data can be shared, so that the positioning accuracy can be improved.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the communication means has an input unit and an output unit for serial communication data, and the input unit and the output unit are connected to an outer peripheral portion of a main body of each positioning device. Are arranged at symmetrical positions. In such a configuration, if a plurality of positioning devices are arranged side by side, data can be transmitted and received between the devices at the same time.

Further, according to the invention of claim 13, a plurality of positioning devices each including a measuring means for measuring a current position based on data received from a satellite, and a communication means for transmitting and receiving data wirelessly, Wireless receiving means for receiving measurement data of each positioning device wirelessly transmitted from the plurality of positioning devices, and storage means for storing the measurement data received by the receiving means in association with the group to which each positioning device belongs A transmission / reception device including wireless transmission means for wirelessly transmitting a plurality of measurement data respectively corresponding to each group stored in the storage means to a positioning device belonging to the group. . In such a configuration, by positioning a plurality of positioning devices located close to each other and a plurality of positioning devices having the same behavior by the user in the same group, each positioning device is a member of another positioning device in the same group. The measurement data can be shared, and when a plurality of users are performing the same action, the positioning device can know its current position without performing position measurement. In addition, the shared measurement data can be received in one communication, and no unnecessary data is received, so that the communication time is short.

Further, in the invention according to claim 14, the transmitting and receiving device determines, from among the plurality of measurement data of each group stored in the storage means, the determination data transmitted together with each measurement data from the positioning device. Indicated by the data, each measurement data is selected The measurement data having the highest validity determined based on the reception status of data from the satellite at the time of position measurement is selected, and the selected measurement data is transmitted to the wireless transmission unit. Control means for transmitting the measurement data to each positioning device belonging to the corresponding group is provided.
According to such a configuration, each positioning device can share the highest validity measurement data acquired by another positioning device in the same group.

Further, according to the invention of claim 15, a positioning device having communication means for measuring a current position based on data received from a satellite and transmitting and receiving data held by the device wirelessly, Wireless receiving means for receiving the retained data transmitted from the positioning device, storage means for storing data received by the wireless receiving means, and, in response to a request from the positioning device, receiving data stored in the storage means And a transmission / reception device including a wireless transmission means for wirelessly transmitting to the location device. In such a configuration, when the positioning device uses a battery as a power source, when the battery is replaced, the data held by the device is stored in the transmitting / receiving device, and the battery is replaced by receiving the data after the battery replacement. Position measurement can be performed in a short time even immediately after the start.

Further, in the invention according to claim 16, the positioning device includes control means for causing the communication means to transmit the stored data to the transmitting / receiving device in accordance with a predetermined condition. . According to such a configuration, data owned by the user can be automatically stored in the transmission / reception device without causing the user to perform a complicated operation, and the number of times of communication with the transmission / reception device can be reduced.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG.
1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a positioning system according to the present invention, the system including one or a plurality of portable positioning devices 1 and a base station device 2 functioning as a transmitting / receiving device of the present invention.

The positioning device 1 operates using a battery as a power source. As shown in FIG.
And 2. The GPS unit 12 includes a GPS antenna for receiving an L1 band radio wave from a GPS satellite, an RF,
A satellite radio receiving unit 13 composed of an A / D and the like, and a data register necessary for decoding positioning data composed of satellite data such as ephemeris and almanac and C / L code from radio waves received by the satellite radio receiving unit 13 , A counter, a decoder, and a signal processing unit 14 including a CPU and the like for controlling them. The signal processing unit 14 has a read-only mask ROM 15 for storing the program of the CPU, and various data including the satellite information in accordance with the position measurement work, and a readable / writable register used as an arithmetic register of the CPU. Na SR
The AM 16 is connected, and measures the current position based on a signal received by the satellite radio wave receiving unit 13. Then, the measurement result, that is, positioning data such as the latitude / longitude and the number of satellites captured at the time of position measurement is transmitted to the clock unit 11 side. Note that the S
The RAM 16 is supplied with power even during non-measurement, and can always hold data except for battery replacement.

The clock section 11 is constituted by a control section 17 and each section described later connected to the control section 17. The control unit 17 and the signal processing unit 14 of the GPS unit 12 can transmit and receive data via input / output terminals A, B, and C provided respectively. The control unit 17 is connected to the CPU 18 and the RO.
M19 and RAM 20, and the CPU 18
The positioning device 1 operates by operating the RAM 20 as a working memory in accordance with the control program stored in the M19.
Take control of the whole. Further, the RAM 20 stores various setting data such as a use area set by the user. The control unit 17 is connected to a data storage unit 21, a 32 kHz crystal oscillator 22, a high-speed crystal oscillator 23, a switch input unit 24, and a display unit 25. The data storage unit 21 is a memory that stores map data and geodetic data necessary for measurement. The 32 KHz crystal oscillator 22 is an oscillator that performs source oscillation used for counting time when measurement is not performed.
The control unit 17 functions as a clock counter based on the clock signal of the crystal oscillator 22. The high-speed crystal oscillator 23
Is an oscillator that performs source oscillation used for counting time with the accuracy of an atomic clock at the time of position measurement.

The switch input unit 24 comprises a plurality of operation switches used for various operations of the positioning device. The display unit 25 has a liquid crystal display for displaying information by a plurality of display dots arranged in a matrix and a driving circuit for the liquid crystal display. Accordingly, the positioning device 1 can display the current time when not measuring, and when measuring, the numerical values of the latitude and longitude indicating the measured current position, the position of the satellite when the display area is assumed to be the sky, and the current time. Simple display of points is possible. Further, a wireless data transmission / reception unit 26 is connected to the control unit 17 to enable wireless data communication with the base station device 2 and other positioning devices 1.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the base station device 2 has a configuration in which a GPS unit 12 having the same configuration as the positioning device 1 is connected to a CPU 31 that controls the entire base station device 2. I have. The CPU 31 includes a ROM 32 in which a control program is stored, a RAM 33 as a working memory, a data storage unit 21 similar to that in the clock unit 12 of the positioning device 1, a switch input unit 24, a display unit 25, and a wireless data transmission / reception unit. The unit 26 is connected.

Next, the position measuring operation of the positioning device 1 in the above positioning system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the present embodiment, the positioning device 1 is P
It is assumed that the HS terminal and the base station device 2 are PHS base stations, and when the positioning device 1 makes a call to a predetermined station number, a line is connected to the nearest base station.

In the following, the positioning device 1 first supplies power to the GPS unit 2 and starts it when the measurement is started (step SA1), and then it is within 2 hours since the last acquisition of ephemeris. (Step SA)
2). Here, if the time is within 2 hours, the ephemeris data in the SRAM 16 is determined to be valid, and the satellite processing based on the ephemeris, code decoding,
Position calculation, measurement result display, etc. are performed (step SA1).
0), the measurement operation ends. If two hours have elapsed since the last ephemeris acquisition (NO in step SA2), the GPS unit 12 continues to operate in the SRAM 16
To determine the validity of the data itself. This is SR
The ephemeris data in the AM 16 is for determining the presence or absence of a data defect, for example, when it is destroyed.
If the data is valid (YE in step SA3)
S), performing the above-described measurement processing (step SA10),
The measurement operation ends.

If the data in the SRAM 16 is invalid (NO in step SA3), the data is automatically transmitted to a predetermined station number, so that the nearest base station apparatus 2 serving as a server having a valid ephemeris in the area is provided. Is connected to (step SA4). Subsequently, the network connection is performed after the line connection is successful, the ephemeris held by the base station device 2 is downloaded, the data is stored in the RAM 20 (step SA5), and when the download is completed, the line is disconnected (step SA5). SA
6). Note that ephemeris is a plurality of data held by the base station device 2. Next, the control unit 17 controls the signal processing unit 14
After sending a command to transfer ephemeris to the ephemeris (step SA7), ephemeris is transferred (step SA8), and the transferred ephemeris is sent to the signal processing unit 1.
4 writes in the SRAM 16 (step SA9). Then, a measurement process is performed using the newly acquired ephemeris (step SA10), and the process ends.

Therefore, even when a long time (two hours in the present embodiment) has elapsed since the last time ephemeris was acquired, even if the ephemeris held by itself is invalid, the position measurement can be performed. At times, it is possible to measure the position in a shorter time than in the case where it is obtained from a satellite.
Therefore, power consumption at the time of position measurement is small, battery life is prolonged, and the size of the device can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the base station device 2
Although the case where the base station is an HS base station has been described, the base station apparatus 2 is used as a base station of a mobile phone, and the positioning apparatus 1 has a function as a mobile phone, thereby enabling the data communication as described above. You may. In addition, the radio broadcast station is provided with the function as the base station device 2 and always broadcasts the latest ephemeris data by FM multiplex broadcasting, while the positioning device 1 receives the broadcast as necessary during the measurement operation. It may be configured to acquire the latest ephemeris data.

The base station device 2 functioning as a server does not need to be a fixed base station. For example, the positioning device 1 in the present embodiment may have the same function as the base station device 2. That is, a positioning system using only a plurality of positioning devices 1 may be used, and even in such a case, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained. In a positioning system using only a plurality of positioning devices 1, not only the specific positioning device 1 but also all the positioning devices 1 may have the same functions as the base station device 2.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. The present embodiment relates to a positioning system in which the above-described base station device 2 provides ephemeris at predetermined time intervals to a positioning device 1 registered in advance. Hereinafter, the operation of the system relating to data provision by the base station device 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

After starting the operation, the base station apparatus 2 counts the time elapsed since the last time ephemeris was acquired along with the position measurement, and is in a standby state until it reaches 2 hours. During this standby time (NO in step SB1), for example, when there is a request to transmit ephemeris from positioning device 1 as described in the first embodiment (YES in step SB2), the positioning device 1 is The ephemeris data held by itself is transmitted (step SB3). After the transmission is completed, the line is disconnected (step SB4), and the positioning device 1 is registered as a new destination to provide ephemeris. That is, in the RAM 33,
The line number of the positioning device 1 is stored in addition to the line number of the other positioning device 1 stored in advance (step S5).
Thereafter, the same operation is repeated in the standby state.

When two hours have passed since the last acquisition of ephemeris (NO in step SB1), G
The PS unit 2 is started (step SB6), the position measurement process is performed, and a new ephemeris is obtained (step SB6).
7). Next, a call is made to a line number registered in advance to call the other party, and if the line is connected (step SB8), ephemeris data is transmitted using a predetermined protocol (step SB9). Is cut (step SB10). Thereafter, at the time of such communication, it is determined whether or not the positioning device 1 has received an end request indicating that data transmission is unnecessary thereafter (step SB11). Here, when there is a termination request,
Delete the line number of the positioning device 1 (step SB1
2) If there is no end request, ephemeris data is transmitted to all the other parties in the same procedure as above (NO in step SB13). When the transmission of the ephemeris data to all the destinations is completed, the process returns to the standby state again (YES in step SB13), and the above-described operation is repeated.

Thus, the positioning device 1 can automatically acquire ephemeris data from the specific base station device 2 (server) at predetermined time intervals. Therefore, the position measurement can be performed in a short time by always using the effective ephemeris. In addition, since ephemeris is provided only when it is needed, and can be terminated when it is no longer needed, power consumption required for data reception operation while it is unnecessary can be eliminated.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the base station apparatus 2 is a PHS base station as in the above-described embodiment, and there are a plurality of base station apparatuses similar to the PHS base station.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the present invention relates to a positioning system in which a satellite data storage area 33A is provided in a RAM 33 of each of the base stations 2 constituting each of the base stations A, B, and C. In the satellite data storage area 33A, 24 satellite number areas 33a corresponding to all satellites used in the GPS are secured, and corresponding to each satellite number area 33a,
A satellite data area 33b for storing ephemeris, a flag area 33c in the visual field, and an effective time area 33d are secured. In the field of view flag area 33c, flag data indicating whether or not the satellite is within its own field of view ("O" in the figure indicates "present", and "x" indicates "absent"). ) Is stored, and time data indicating the time during which ephemeris is valid (two hours is the longest in the present embodiment) is stored in the valid time area 33e.

Then, each base station device 2 performs a data update operation described below every predetermined time, for example, when position measurement is performed at predetermined time intervals and new ephemeris is acquired. ing. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a data update operation in the base station apparatus 2. When the data update operation is started, the base station apparatus 2 connects a line with another base station (step SC1), and connects to the other base station. Satellite data storage area 3 owned by
3A while receiving all the data in
Once stored in the work area of AM33 (step SC
2) Disconnect the line (step SC3). Next, the existing data relating to the individual satellites owned by itself are sequentially stored in RAM.
Called from step 33 (step SC4).

Here, when the flag within the field of view of the data of the called satellite number (for example, “1”) indicates “present”, that is, when the data is data relating to a satellite existing within its own field of view, YE in step SC5
S) First, it is determined whether or not the corresponding in-view flag on the reception data side indicates “present” (step SC8).
Here, if the reception data side also indicates “present” (YES in step SC8), the validity time of the own data and the reception data is further compared, and if the validity time of the reception data side is longer (step SC9). YES), the received data is overwritten and stored as the data held by itself (in the above example, the data having the satellite number “1”) (step SC7). If the flag in the field of view on the reception data side is "none" in step SC8, and if the valid time on the reception data side is shorter (NO in SC9), the process returns to step SC4 as it is, and the next data is processed. The processing described above is performed.

When the result of the determination in step SC5 is NO and the flag in the field of view of the called existing data indicates "none", that is, the data is data relating to a satellite that does not exist in its own field of view. In this case, if the in-view flag on the reception data side indicates “present” (YES in step SC6), the received data is overwritten as new data (step SC7), and this indicates “absence”. If (NO in step SC6),
The process returns to step SC4 without doing anything, and performs the above-described processing for the next data. Then, the above processing is performed by 24
The process is repeated until the data on all the satellites is completed (NO in step SC), and the data update operation is completed with the completion. When another base station performs a data update operation, all the data stored in its own satellite data storage area 33 is transmitted to that base station.

Thus, base station apparatus 2 of the present embodiment
In, not only the ephemeris of a satellite in its own field of view but also the ephemeris of a satellite not in its own field of view can be provided to the positioning device 1. Therefore, even when the base station device 2 and the positioning device 1 are located in remote areas, the ephemeris of a satellite within the field of view of the positioning device 1 can be reliably provided to the positioning device 1. Moreover, a newer and more effective ephemeris can always be provided for a satellite ephemeris that is not within its own field of view. In addition, the positioning device 1 can conveniently obtain ephemeris necessary for position measurement in a different area even when moving to a different area, which is convenient.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. The present embodiment relates to an operation of transmitting ephemeris data in response to a request from positioning device 1 in base station device 2 described above. Hereinafter, the operation of the base station apparatus 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
2 to perform the measurement processing, update the ephemeris of the satellite within its own field of view, and then perform the data update processing described in the third embodiment (YE in step SD1).
S, Step SD2 to Step SD4). Further, after this operation, and while the measurement and data are not being updated, for example, a state of waiting for a request for transmission of ephemeris from the positioning device 1 as described in the first embodiment,
If there is no transmission request (NO in step SD5), the process returns to step SD1.

On the other hand, when there is a request to transmit ephemeris from positioning device 1 (YES in step SD5), the position of positioning device 1 on the transmitting side is first specified (step SD5).
6). Note that this position identification is performed, for example, together with a CS-ID indicating a public base station that relayed the transmission of the positioning device 1, an area number indicating a predetermined area including the public base station, or a transmission request from the positioning device 1 along with the transmission request. This is performed by receiving the immediately preceding position measurement result (latitude / longitude) in the device 1. Next, ephemeris of a plurality of satellites corresponding to the area corresponding to the specified transmitting side position and the surrounding area is selected (step SD7). In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the area covered by the mobile terminal is divided into a plurality of management areas in advance, and for example, when the position of the transmitting side corresponds to the management area 3H in the figure, 2G-4I is set as a diagonal. The ephemeris of the satellite within the field of view corresponding to the nine management areas to be shared, that is, the common area 40 where the same plurality of ephemeris can be shared is selected. Thereafter, the selected ephemeris is transmitted to the transmitting side (step SD8), and thereafter, the above operation is repeated.

Thus, in the positioning device 1, the third
As in the embodiment, even when the user moves to a different area, ephemeris necessary for position measurement in that area can be acquired in advance. In addition, no useless ephemeris is not received, thereby shortening the data communication time and reducing the power consumption required for communication.

(Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. First, at the time of position measurement, even if ephemeris is valid, synchronization at the hour is required after the start of measurement, which takes about 15 seconds. The process for securing the synchronization is a process for obtaining the second carry of the atomic clock of the satellite and the timing of the satellite data transmission.
In the present embodiment, the base station transmits the second carry obtained by the base station itself at the time of acquiring the ephemeris to the positioning device 1 that has transmitted the ephemeris, and the satellite data, that is, the timing data indicating the deviation width from the second carry. On the other hand, the present invention relates to a positioning system in which the positioning device 1 performs position measurement using the same.

Here, the base station device 2 in the present system
In this case, a high-speed crystal oscillator is provided as in the positioning device 1 shown in FIG. 2, so that the time can be counted with the same accuracy as an atomic clock. The RAM 33 is provided with the satellite data storage area 33B shown in FIG. This satellite data storage area 33B has 24 satellite number areas 33a, which have been described in the third embodiment,
Satellite data area 33b, in-view flag area 33c,
In addition to the valid time area 33d, a timing data area 33e for storing the aforementioned timing data is secured.

Hereinafter, the position measurement operation in the case where the position measurement including the data reception from the base station device 2 is selected by the user in the positioning device 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the positioning device 1 starts position measurement, it first supplies power to the GPS unit 2 and starts it (step SE1), and then transmits a signal to the station number of the base station device 2 to connect a line (step SE2). Next, the ephemeris transmitted from the base station apparatus 2 and timing data indicating the reception timing are obtained and stored in the RAM.
After storing the data in the memory 20 (step SE3), the input to the control unit 17, which is a clock counter, is switched from the normal 32 KHz crystal oscillator 22 to the high-precision high-speed crystal oscillator 23 (step SE4). Subsequently, in this state, a time carry signal indicating the above-described second carry is obtained from the base station device 2 (step SE5), and a clock counter, that is, the CPU 1 is adjusted in accordance with the obtained time carry signal.
8 is reset (step SE6), and when the counting is completed, the line is disconnected (step SE7). Next, the output of the output terminal C of the control unit 17 is changed from "L" to "H" simultaneously with the previously reset counter carry (step SE8), and at that timing, the time counter of the GPS unit 2 is reset (step SE9). ). Thereby, the second carry on the GPS unit 2 side is made substantially the same as the second carry of the atomic clock of the satellite.

Subsequently, a command for sending data is sent from the output terminal B of the control unit 17 to the signal processing unit 14, and the received ephemeris and timing data are sent to the GP.
The data is sequentially transferred to the S unit 12 (steps SE10 and SE1).
1). Thereafter, analysis of the positioning information sent from each satellite is performed with the vicinity of the position based on the counter value (deviation from the second carry) indicated by the timing data received from the base station device 2 as the data head position, and After performing the position calculation based on the positioning information acquired by the above and the measurement processing such as the display of the measurement result (step SE12), the operation is ended.

Here, considering the accuracy of the current GPS itself, within the range of the distance from the base station to the terminal, even if both use the same counter value, the reception of satellite data due to the difference in each position is not considered. The difference in timing is slight. For this reason, in the measurement processing, the synchronization described earlier can be performed in a short time. Therefore, in the case of performing normal position measurement after the above-described processing, position measurement can be performed in a shorter time as compared with those described in the above-described first to fourth embodiments. In addition, the battery life can be extended and the size of the device can be reduced.

(Sixth Embodiment) Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. For example, in the case where the users of the positioning devices are performing the same action in a group, there is a limit in how to separate the individual positions, and considering the positioning accuracy of the current GPS, the measurement results of a certain positioning device are Another positioning device may be the result of its own measurement. The present embodiment focuses on this point, and relates to a positioning system that enables a plurality of positioning devices to share measurement results.

FIG. 2 shows a positioning device constituting this positioning system.
Has the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 1, and performs data communication between them according to the PHS communication protocol. As shown in FIG. 12, the RAM 20 has a group data storage area 20A including a data number area 20a, a terminal line number area 20b, and a measurement flag area 20c. The terminal line number area 20b is an area for storing the line number of another positioning device registered as a group terminal by a predetermined operation by the user, and is a measurement flag area 20c.
Is an area for storing flag data indicating which of the other registered positioning devices is the measurement terminal that actually performed position measurement.

The operation of the positioning device constituting the positioning system will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the positioning device starts operation, it determines whether or not there is a call from another group terminal registered in advance (step SF1). If there is no call, it further determines whether or not the measurement mode has been selected by the user. (Step SF
2). If the measurement mode is not selected here, step S
Returning to F1, when the measurement mode is selected (step SF
2 is YES), it is determined whether the selected measurement mode is a GPS measurement mode or a communication measurement mode prepared in advance (step SF3). First, the case where the GPS measurement mode is selected will be described. In such a case, after supplying power to the GPS unit 2 and starting it (step SF4), a radio wave from a satellite is received to analyze the positioning information. Then, a measurement process for measuring the current position of the self based on the analyzed data is performed (step SF5). After the measurement process is completed, a measurement accuracy level indicating the accuracy of the measurement result is calculated. The measurement accuracy level indicates the validity of the measurement result. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the received radio wave intensity at the time of the measurement processing, the relative angle between the satellites, the number of captured satellites, and the like. Level determination is performed on the three types of accuracy determination items according to predetermined criteria, and the results (L1, L2, b3, L3, L3, L2, L3, L2, L3, L3, L3, L3, L3, L3, L3) are weighted and summed. Let c) be the final measurement accuracy level. Note that the measurement accuracy level may be obtained by other methods.

Next, it is determined whether or not the calculated measurement accuracy level is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference level. When the measurement accuracy level does not reach the reference level, that is, when the validity of the measurement result is considered to be low (NO in step SF7). , Step S as it is
Return to F1. If the calculated measurement accuracy level is equal to or higher than the reference level, the line numbers of the other terminals registered as group terminals are sequentially called from the RAM 20 and transmitted to the terminal to connect the line (step SF8). It transmits its own line number to the other party to inform that it is the measurement terminal (step SF9). When the transmission is completed, the line is disconnected (step SF10), the own line number is transmitted to the other terminal to the other terminal, and when the transmission is completed to all terminals (YES in step SF12), the step is performed. Return to SF1. In connection with this, the other terminal is set as a measurement terminal.

After the self is registered as a measuring terminal in another terminal by such an operation, if there is a call from another terminal (step SF1), first, the content of the call is determined (step SF12), If the request is a request, the measurement data acquired in the measurement processing in step SF5 described above is transmitted to the source terminal (step SF1).
3). If the content of the call is a line number notification, that is, a call for notifying that another terminal has performed measurement in the above-described GPS measurement mode, the terminal is set as a measurement terminal. RAM
20 and updates the flag data in the measurement flag area 20c (see FIG.
Store to 0.

Next, the operation in the case where the measurement mode determined in step SF3 is the communication measurement mode and the user selects the measurement mode will be described. Note that the measurement mode by communication is a mode in which any of the group terminals other than the self is set as a measurement terminal, and a valid measurement is performed only within a predetermined period of time predetermined from the time stored in the RAM 20 in step SF13 described above. Mode. When such a measurement mode is selected, RA
The line number of the terminal set as the measuring terminal is called from M20 (step SF15), and a call is sent to the measuring terminal to connect the line (step SF16). Subsequently, if the line can be connected, the latest measurement data held by the other party is received (step SF17), and when the reception is completed, the line is disconnected (step SF18). Then, the received data is processed as its own measurement data (step SF1).
9). For example, it is displayed as a measurement result or stored as locus data indicating a moving locus. This terminates the measurement mode and thereafter repeats the above-described operation.

Thus, in a case where the users of the positioning devices are taking the same action as a group, the measurement result of one of the positioning devices can be shared by all the other positioning devices. Therefore, a positioning device other than the measuring terminal can always acquire its own current position reliably and in a short time. In addition, power consumption is smaller than in the case where the self measurement is performed by the GPS, so that the battery life can be prolonged and the size of the device can be reduced. In particular, when the reception environment of the radio wave from the satellite is clearly bad, one of the users simply moves to a place with a good reception environment and performs measurement, and all others acquire the current position. This is convenient. Also, in the present embodiment, only when it is considered that the validity of the measurement result is high when measurement is performed by GPS (YE in step SF7)
S) Since the measurement results are shared, high measurement accuracy can be secured for each positioning device in the group.

In the present embodiment, the terminal that has performed measurement by GPS simply transmits its line number to another terminal to notify that it is the measurement terminal, while the other terminal is not required. Although the measurement data of the measurement terminal is received according to the above, the measurement data may be automatically transmitted to another terminal when the measurement terminal performs the measurement by the GPS. Even in this case, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained, and the advantage that the user of another terminal taking the same action does not need to perform the measurement operation is obtained. Further, all the terminals registered in the group may be measured by the GPS at predetermined time intervals in a preset order, and the measurement result may be transmitted to another terminal. In that case, power consumption can be reduced in all terminals.

Also, in the present embodiment, the positioning device
Although the transmission and reception of the measurement data according to the communication protocol of S has been described, a configuration in which the transmission and reception of the measurement data is performed using another wireless system such as a mobile phone may be used.

(Seventh Embodiment) Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. The present embodiment relates to a positioning system including a positioning device substantially similar to that of the sixth embodiment. However, in the present embodiment, the RAM
20 is provided with a storage area for sequentially storing the line numbers of other positioning devices registered as group terminals by a predetermined operation by the user. Note that the measurement flag area as in the sixth embodiment is unnecessary.

Hereinafter, the operation of the positioning device constituting the positioning system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the positioning device starts operation, it determines whether there is a call from another group terminal registered in advance (step SG1), and if there is no call, further determines whether or not the measurement mode is selected by the user. Determine (Step SG
2). If the measurement mode is not selected here, step S
Returning to G1, when the measurement mode is selected (step SG
(YES in Step 2), supply power to the GPS unit 2 and start it (Step SG3), receive radio waves from the satellite, analyze the positioning information, and measure its own current position based on the analyzed data. Processing is performed (step SG4). If the measurement processing is successful, the measurement accuracy level indicating the accuracy of the measurement result is calculated by the same method as that described in the sixth embodiment (step SG6), and the calculation result is stored in the RAM 20 together with the measurement result. , And at the same time the time at that time is stored (step SG7), and the process returns to step SG1.

If the result of the determination in step SG5 is NO and the measurement fails, the call is sequentially transmitted to all the other registered terminals to connect the lines, and the measurement data held by the other party and the The corresponding measurement accuracy level data is received (step SG8). Note that the measurement data and the like received here are only those obtained by position measurement performed within a predetermined period of time. And
When communication with all terminals is completed (Y in step SG9)
ES), among the received measurement data, the measurement data with the highest measurement accuracy level, that is, the measurement data with the highest reliability is processed as its own measurement data (step SG10). For example, it is displayed as a measurement result or stored as locus data indicating a moving locus. This terminates the measurement mode and thereafter repeats the above-described operation. If there is a call from another group terminal during that time (YES in step SG1), the measurement data measured by itself and the measurement accuracy level data indicating the measurement accuracy are transmitted to the other party (step SG11). However, the measurement data and the like to be transmitted here are only those obtained by position measurement performed within a predetermined period of time.

This makes it possible to perform measurement even when the reception environment of the radio wave from the satellite is bad and cannot be measured. When the measurement results are sequentially stored as trajectory data, there is no omission of data. Is good. Moreover, highly accurate measurement results can be obtained. In the present embodiment, a case has been described in which the measurement result of another terminal is processed as its own measurement result only when the measurement fails.
Not limited to this, even if the measurement is successful, receive data from all other terminals as described above, and select the one with the highest measurement accuracy level from among those including their own measurement results, It may be processed as the measurement result at that time. In that case, a highly accurate measurement result is always obtained. Also, as described in the sixth embodiment, the measurement mode using the GPS and the measurement mode using the communication are prepared in advance, and when the measurement mode using the communication is selected, the above-described steps SG8 to SG10 are performed.
And the measurement result of another terminal may be used as the self measurement result.

(Eighth Embodiment) Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. The present embodiment is composed of a plurality of portable positioning devices and a base station device functioning as a transmission / reception device of the present invention, and shows a movement trajectory of each positioning device between each positioning device and the base station device. The present invention relates to a positioning system that wirelessly communicates trajectory data.

The configurations of the positioning device and the base station device are the same as those described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, and the positioning device and the base station device can perform data communication according to, for example, a PHS communication protocol. ing. In the data storage unit 21 of the base station device, a terminal data storage area 33C shown in FIG. 16 and a group locus data storage area 33D shown in FIG. 17 are secured. The terminal data storage area 33C includes a data number 33f, a line number 33g of a terminal (positioning device), and a group name 33h indicating a group including the terminal. This group is set in advance in each positioning device as a terminal. In addition, besides this, for example, the base station apparatus automatically groups the adjacent base stations when each terminal transmits to the base station apparatus, within a range where the positioning accuracy can be maintained. It may be something. Group locus data storage area 3
3D is an area for sequentially storing locus data (a1, a2, a3, etc.) for each group (A, B, C, D...), Specifically, latitude / longitude data. . Also,
Each positioning device has a configuration in which the measurement accuracy level is acquired together with the measurement result at the time of position measurement by the GPS in the same manner as in the seventh embodiment, and the data is stored. Note that the positioning device and the base station device may have a configuration in which data communication can be performed by another wireless communication system such as a mobile phone other than the PHS.

Hereinafter, the operations of the base station apparatus and the positioning apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. As shown in FIG.
During the operation, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) has elapsed since the previous collection of the trajectory data,
If it has not elapsed (NO in step SH1), the process proceeds to step SH5. When the time has elapsed, a call is transmitted to each registered terminal to connect the line, and the positioning data and the measurement accuracy level data are received from the connected terminal (step SH2). Then, upon receiving the data obtained immediately before from all the registered terminals (step S
(YES in H3), and subsequently, the positioning data having the highest measurement accuracy level among the positioning data in each terminal for each group is determined as the positioning data at that time, that is, the locus data in the group, and is determined as the group locus. The data is stored in the corresponding location of the data storage area 33D (step SH4).

Next, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time (for example, one hour) has elapsed since the previous transmission of the locus data. If the time has not elapsed (NO in step SH5),
It returns to step SH1. When the time has elapsed, a call is made to each registered terminal to connect the line, and the trajectory data of the group corresponding to the terminal is transmitted to the connected terminal (step SH6). When the transmission of the trajectory data to all the registered terminals is completed (step SH)
(YES at 7), returning to step SH1 and repeating the above-described processing.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the operation of the positioning apparatus corresponding to the above operation of the base station apparatus. The positioning apparatus receives a call from the base station apparatus (step S).
The content is determined (step SI2), and if it is a request for measurement data, the measurement data held by the self and the measurement accuracy level data corresponding thereto are transmitted (step SI3). When the call from the base station apparatus is related to the transmission of the locus data, the transmitted locus data is received (step SI4), and the received data is stored in the data storage unit 21 as locus data indicating the own locus. Memorize (Step S
I5). Thereafter, when the locus display operation is performed by the user (YES in step SI6), the locus data stored in the processing in step SI5 is called, and
By illuminating each dot of the liquid crystal display of the display unit 25 corresponding to the position indicated by them, the own movement locus is displayed (step SI7). Further, when there is no trajectory display operation and after the display of the moving trajectory is completed, step S
Returning to I1, the above-described processing is repeated.

Thus, each of the positioning devices constituting the group transmits the data held by itself in response to a request from the base station device, without each having to transmit / receive data to / from another positioning device. Just by doing so, the unification of the trajectory data is automatically performed. Therefore, even when the locus data is unified within a group, the number of transmissions from the positioning device is small, and individual power consumption can be saved. In the present embodiment, the base station device periodically transmits the locus data. However, the transmission of the locus data may be appropriately performed in response to a request from the positioning device.

Further, the base station device stores, as the locus data of the group, the measurement data having the highest measurement accuracy level among the plurality of measurement data received from the positioning devices of the same group, and stores it in each of the positioning devices of the group. However, the following positioning system may be used separately. For example, the base station device stores all measurement results of the individual positioning devices received at predetermined time intervals as trajectory data, and stores a plurality of measurement data received from the positioning devices of the same group as each positioning device of the group as it is. Send to In each of the positioning devices, the received plurality of measurement data is stored as trajectory data, and when the user performs a trajectory display operation, all of the trajectory data is displayed on the display unit 2.
5 is displayed on the liquid crystal display.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a locus display screen G on the liquid crystal display in that case. In other words, the position measurement results of each positioning device in the same group vary to some extent due to the difference in the number of satellites captured at the time of measurement and the reception status of radio waves. Becomes However, for the user, each dot group d1, d2, d3, d4,.
By recognizing the center of the measurement as a measurement result at each time point, the position at each time point can be determined, and the own movement locus can be known.

(Ninth Embodiment) Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. The present embodiment relates to a positioning system that includes a portable positioning device and a base station device that functions as a transmitting / receiving device of the present invention, and wirelessly communicates various data held by the positioning device between the two. . The configurations of the positioning device and the base station device are the same as those described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, and the positioning device and the base station device can perform data communication according to, for example, a PHS communication protocol. RAM included in the base station device
Although not shown, the terminal 33 has a terminal data storage area for storing a terminal ID assigned to the positioning device in advance and data transmitted by the positioning device in association with each other. In this embodiment, the positioning device and the base station device may have a configuration in which data communication can be performed by another wireless communication system such as a mobile phone.

Hereinafter, operations of the base station apparatus and the positioning apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the operation of the positioning device. During the operation, the positioning device counts an elapsed time since data transmission described later is performed, and when a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous data transmission (YES in step SJ1), the positioning device performs the following data transmission operation. Do. First, the SRAM 16 of the GPS unit 12
Prepare backup data for transferring data such as satellite information stored in the RAM 20 to the RAM 20 (step SJ).
2) Next, a call is transmitted to the base station apparatus to connect a line (step SJ3), and the data transferred in step SJ2 in the RAM 20 and various setting data such as a use area stored in the RAM 20 from the beginning are used. Is transmitted and its own terminal ID (step SJ).
4). When the transmission is completed (Y in step SJ5)
ES), and disconnect the line (step SJ6). Thereafter, the data transmission operation is performed at predetermined time intervals. On the other hand, during this time, if the user performs a data receiving operation due to battery replacement or system initialization, the following data receiving operation is performed. That is, a call is transmitted to the base station apparatus to connect the line (step SJ7), the own terminal ID is transmitted (step SJ8), and the own backup data stored in the base station apparatus is received by the above-described data transmission operation. (Step SJ10). When the reception is completed (YES in step SJ11), the line is disconnected (step SJ6). After the line is disconnected, the received data such as satellite information is transferred from the RAM 20 to the GPS unit 1.
2 to the SRAM 16.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the operation of the base station apparatus corresponding to the operation of the positioning apparatus. During the operation, the base station apparatus waits for a call from the positioning apparatus which is a terminal. If there is a call from the terminal (YES in step SK1), the content of the call is determined (step SK2). Here, when the content of the call is the upload of data accompanying the data transmission operation,
The terminal ID and the backup data are received (step S
K3) After storing the received data in the terminal data storage area of the RAM 33 (step SK4), the terminal side is notified that the reception has been completed (step SK5). When the content of the call is a download of data accompanying the data receiving operation, first, after receiving the terminal ID (step SK6), the backup data corresponding to the terminal ID is called from the terminal data storage area. Is transmitted to the other party (step SK7), and the terminal waits for a call from the terminal again.

Thus, in the positioning device, for example, when the backup battery for data is replaced, the position measurement can be performed in a short time by downloading its own backup data from the base station device after the battery replacement. Therefore, the battery life can be prolonged and the size of the device can be reduced. In addition, since the backup battery itself is unnecessary, the size of the device can be easily reduced.

In the present embodiment, the positioning device performs the data transmission operation at a predetermined time interval. However, the positioning device performs the data transmission operation in response to a predetermined switch operation by the user. Is also good. Further, in the case where the data transmission operation is performed at a fixed time interval as in the present embodiment, for example, when there is a place or area where the positioning device cannot communicate with the base station device, its own If it is determined in advance whether or not communication with the base station device is possible from the current location, if it is made to perform a data transmission operation when it is in a place or area where it is possible or when it moves,
The power required for useless communication can be saved while the convenience of the user is maintained by eliminating the need to transmit the backup data. The base station device does not need to be a fixed base station. For example, another specific positioning device may have the same function as the base station device in the positioning device. That is, a positioning system using only a plurality of positioning devices may be used. In such a case, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained.

(Tenth Embodiment) Next, a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment relates to a positioning system including a plurality of portable positioning devices having the same structure. As shown in FIG. 23A, a positioning device 41 constituting the positioning system is of a wristwatch type, and has a device main body 42 and an antenna accommodating portion 43 provided continuously on the left side thereof. A liquid crystal display 44 and a plurality of operation switches 45 are provided on the upper surface of the device main body 42, and a GPS antenna is housed inside the antenna housing 43. Further, as shown in FIG. 23 (b), an infrared light receiving portion 46 is provided on the left side surface 43a of the antenna housing portion 43.
As shown in FIG. 23C, an infrared light emitting section 47 is provided on the right side surface 42a of the apparatus main body 42 at a position symmetrical to the light receiving section 46. FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the positioning device 41. Explaining the parts different from those shown in FIG.
1 includes the wireless data transmitting / receiving unit 26 described above.
Instead, an optical data input section 48 and an optical data output section 49 are connected. The optical data input section 48 is connected to the light receiving section 46.
And receives a communication infrared ray sent from the outside, and sends data superimposed thereon to the control unit 17.
The optical data output unit 49 includes a transmission circuit including the infrared LED 7 arranged corresponding to the light emitting unit 47, and emits infrared light for communication in which data transmitted from the control unit 17 is superimposed. The optical data input unit 48 and the optical data output unit 49 enable serial data communication with another positioning device. The other configuration is the same as that shown in FIG. 2, and the description will be omitted by giving the same reference numerals to the same parts.

Next, the operation of the positioning device 41 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the positioning device 41 is not performing position measurement, it determines whether or not a predetermined data output operation has been performed by the user (step SL1). When such an operation is performed (YES in step SL1), the GPS unit 1
2 for preparing data output for transferring data such as satellite data such as ephemeris and almanac stored in the SRAM 16 to the RAM 20 (step SL).
2) The transmitted satellite data and the like are output to the outside from the light emitting section 47 by infrared rays (step SL3). Also,
If the data output operation has not been performed, it is further determined whether or not a predetermined data input standby operation has been performed by the user. If such operation has not been performed (NO in step SL4), the process directly returns to step SL1. When the data input standby operation is performed, after the data receiving state is entered (step SL5), the data is transmitted by the infrared light received by the light receiving unit 46, that is, the infrared light emitted by the other positioning device in the above-described operation of step SL3. The received data is received (step SL6) and temporarily stored in the RAM 20 (step SL7). Subsequently, the received data is output to the outside from the light emitting section 47 by infrared rays (step SL8), and the received data temporarily stored in the RAM 20 is transferred to the SRAM 16 of the GPS section 12 and set as its own data. After that, if the user performs a data output operation or a data input standby operation, the above-described operation is repeated.

Here, in the positioning device 41, since the infrared ray receiving portion 46 and the light emitting portion 47 are arranged symmetrically on the outer peripheral portion of the device, for example, as shown in FIG. After the three positioning devices 41 (A to C) are arranged side by side, the data input standby operation is performed on the second and third positioning devices 41B and 41C to enter the data receiving state, and the data output operation is performed on the first positioning device 41A. , The satellite data and the like can be simultaneously transferred from the first positioning device 41A to the second and third positioning devices 41B and 41C, whereby the plurality of positioning devices 41 can easily share the satellite data and the like. can do. Further, for example, even when the measurement operation is not performed for a long time and the ephemeris owned by the user is invalid, the position measurement can be performed in a short time by receiving the ephemeris from another positioning device 41. The battery life is extended and the device can be downsized.

In the above description, the case of transmitting and receiving satellite data and the like stored in the SRAM 16 by infrared serial communication has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The trajectory data may be transmitted and received. Further, if the user is made to select data to be transmitted / received during the data output operation and the selected data is transmitted / received, the usability can be further improved. In the present embodiment, the infrared light receiving unit 46 and the light emitting unit 47 are provided at the symmetrical positions on the left and right of the positioning device 41. However, the light receiving unit 46 and the light emitting unit 47 May be arranged at other symmetrical positions such as the upper surface and the lower surface. When the positioning devices 41 are arranged on the upper and lower surfaces of the device main body 42 and the plurality of positioning devices 41 are vertically stacked, the above-described satellite information and the like can be transferred.

[0080]

As described above, in the present invention,
The positioning device receives the satellite data acquired by the transmitting / receiving device and other positioning devices from the transmitting / receiving device, so that the position can be measured without directly receiving the satellite data from the satellite, and the position can be measured in a short time. . Therefore, it is possible to extend the battery life of the positioning device and reduce the size of the device. Further, if the synchronization information indicating the reception timing of the satellite data is received together with the satellite data, the positioning device does not need to perform the synchronization work at the time of receiving the data from the satellite, and the position measurement can be performed in a shorter time. Battery life can be extended and the size of the device can be reduced. In addition, if the positioning device receives satellite data or the like of a satellite that does not exist within the field of view, even if the positioning device moves after receiving satellite data from the transmission / reception device, the position can be determined in a short time without performing a new reception operation. The probability of being able to measure increases. In addition, if the transmitting / receiving device periodically transmits satellite data to the positioning device, the measuring device can always hold new satellite data and the like, and can always perform position measurement in a short time and reliably. In addition, if the positioning device can receive satellite data only when needed, and can eliminate unnecessary communication with the transmitting / receiving device, the battery life can be further extended. it can.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of positioning devices transmit and receive data held by each other wirelessly, and various types of data held by the positioning device are shared by other positioning devices. Was made possible. Therefore, if the satellite data received from the satellite is shared, position measurement can be performed in a short time, and if the measurement data is shared, a plurality of positioning devices close to each other and the user can take the same action. Among a plurality of positioning devices, the other positioning devices can use them as their own measurement data to perform position measurement without large power consumption. Therefore, it is possible to extend the battery life of the positioning device and reduce the size of the device. Furthermore, if the determination data indicating the validity is mutually transmitted and received together with the measurement data, it is possible to know the validity of the shared measurement data, and each positioning device can determine the validity of the measurement data of another positioning device. If the most effective measurement data is processed as its own measurement data, the positioning accuracy can be improved. Further, if the communication means for transmitting and receiving the possessed data has an input unit and an output unit for serial communication data arranged at symmetrical positions on the outer peripheral portion of the main body of the positioning device, a plurality of positioning devices can be used. In the state of being arranged, data can be transmitted and received between the devices at the same time, and the usability is improved.

In another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of positioning devices can share measurement data of another positioning device of the same group via a transmission / reception device. , The positioning device can know its current position without performing position measurement. In addition, shared measurement data can be received in one communication, and the communication time is short. Therefore, position measurement without large power consumption becomes possible. Also, if the positioning device transmits the highest validity measurement data obtained by another positioning device in the same group, each positioning device:
The most effective measurement data acquired by another positioning device in the same group can be shared, and the positioning accuracy is improved.

In another invention, when the battery is replaced, the data held by the own device is stored in the transmission / reception device, and the data is received after the battery replacement, so that the data is stored immediately after the battery replacement. Also made it possible to measure the position in a short time. Therefore, the battery life of the positioning device is prolonged,
In addition, the size of the apparatus can be reduced. Further, if the data held by the user is stored in the transmitting / receiving device according to predetermined conditions, the data held by the user can be automatically stored in the transmitting / receiving device without performing complicated operations. The number of times of communication with the device can be reduced. Therefore,
Usability can be improved while saving power required for communication with the transmitting / receiving device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a positioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a positioning device in the system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a base station device of the system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a measurement operation of the positioning device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a data providing operation of the base station device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a memory configuration of a satellite data storage area provided in a data storage unit of a base station device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a data update operation of the base station device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a data transmission operation of the base station device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a management area and a common area in an area covered by the base station apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a memory configuration of a satellite data storage area provided in a data storage unit of a base station device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a measurement operation of the positioning device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a memory configuration of a group data storage area provided in a data storage unit of a positioning device according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a method of determining measurement accuracy by the positioning device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the positioning device.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation of the positioning device according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a memory configuration of a terminal data storage area provided in a data storage unit of a base station device according to the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a memory configuration of a group locus data storage area in a data storage unit of the base station device.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an operation of the base station device.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the operation of the positioning device corresponding to the operation of the base station device.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a locus display example by a positioning device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an operation of the positioning device according to the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an operation of the base station device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a plan view (a) and left and right side views (b, c) of a positioning device according to a tenth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the positioning device.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the operation of the positioning device.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a data communication method in the positioning device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 positioning device 2 base station device 12 GPS unit 14 signal processing unit 17 control unit 18 CPU 20 RAM 21 data storage unit 26 wireless data transmission / reception unit 31 CPU 33 RAM 41 positioning device 48 optical data input unit 49 optical data output unit

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A transmission / reception device having a radio transmission means for transmitting satellite data received from a satellite by radio, a radio reception means for receiving satellite data transmitted from the transmission / reception device by radio, and this radio reception means Storage means for storing the satellite data received by the receiver, receiving means for receiving data from the satellite, and measuring the current position using the data received by the receiving means and the satellite data stored in the storage means. A positioning system comprising: a positioning device having a measuring unit. 2. The satellite data is accompanied by synchronization information indicating the reception timing of the satellite data, and the receiving means of the positioning device receives data from the satellite using the reception timing indicated by the synchronization information. The positioning system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The positioning device includes a wireless transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits satellite data acquired by the receiving unit to the transmitting / receiving device, and the transmitting / receiving device receives the satellite data transmitted from the positioning device. The positioning system according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless receiving unit that performs the positioning. 4. The positioning system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission / reception device includes a receiving means for receiving satellite data from a satellite. 5. The satellite data received by the positioning device from the transmission / reception device includes satellite data of a satellite not existing in the field of view of the positioning device. Positioning system according to the paragraph. 6. The transmission / reception apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission / reception apparatus periodically transmits satellite data to the positioning apparatus.
The positioning system according to claim 1. 7. The positioning device includes request signal transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting a request signal for requesting transmission of satellite data to the transmitting and receiving device, wherein the transmitting and receiving device transmits the request signal transmitted from the positioning device. A request signal receiving means for receiving the request signal, and transmitting satellite data corresponding to the position of the positioning apparatus to a positioning apparatus which has transmitted the request signal received by the request signal receiving means. 7. The positioning system according to any one of 6. 8. A plurality of positioning devices each comprising a measuring means for measuring a current position based on data received from a satellite and a communication means for mutually transmitting and receiving data held by the wireless communication apparatus. And positioning system. 9. The positioning system according to claim 8, wherein the stored data is measurement data of each of the positioning devices. 10. The possessed data is determination data indicating the validity of the measurement data determined based on the measurement data and the reception status of data from a satellite at the time of position measurement at which the measurement data was acquired. 9. The positioning system according to claim 8, wherein: 11. The positioning system according to claim 10, wherein each of the positioning devices includes a control unit that processes measurement data having the highest validity indicated by the received determination data as its own measurement data. . 12. The communication means has an input unit and an output unit for serial communication data, and the input unit and the output unit are respectively arranged at symmetrical positions on the outer peripheral portion of the main body of each positioning device. The positioning system according to claim 8, wherein: 13. A plurality of positioning devices each including a measuring device for measuring a current position based on data received from a satellite, and a communication device for transmitting and receiving data wirelessly, and wirelessly transmitted from the plurality of positioning devices. Wireless receiving means for receiving the measurement data of each positioning device, storage means for storing the measurement data received by the receiving means in association with the group to which each positioning device belongs, and each storage means stored in the storage means. A positioning system comprising: a transmission / reception device including a wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits a plurality of measurement data respectively corresponding to a group to a positioning device belonging to the group. 14. The transmission / reception device obtains each measurement data indicated by the determination data sent together with each measurement data from the positioning device from the plurality of measurement data of each group stored in the storage unit. The most effective measurement data determined based on the reception status of the data from the satellite at the time of the measured position is selected, and the selected measurement data belonging to the group corresponding to the measurement data is transmitted to the wireless transmission unit. 14. The positioning system according to claim 13, further comprising control means for causing the positioning device to transmit. 15. A positioning device having communication means for measuring a current position based on data received from a satellite and transmitting / receiving wireless data held by the wireless communication device, and transmitting the stored data transmitted from the positioning device to the positioning device. Wireless receiving means for receiving; storage means for storing data received by the wireless receiving means; and wireless transmission for wirelessly transmitting received data stored in the storage means to the location apparatus in response to a request from the positioning apparatus. And a transmitting / receiving device provided with a means. 16. The positioning device according to claim 15, further comprising control means for causing said communication means to transmit the stored data to said transmission / reception device in accordance with a predetermined condition.
The positioning system described.