JP2003141648A - Method of coping with theft of machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cope with a theft of a machine without requiring any operation by a machine operator or the like. SOLUTION: A control center 13 receiving a signal transmitted from a transmitter 12 of a construction machine 11 detects an initial position of the construction machine 11, and detects a comparison position of the construction machine 11 moved after a fixed time. A moved distance along which the construction machine 11 is moved in the fixed time is monitored based on the initial position and the comparison position, and the moved distance of the construction machine 11 is compared with a preset set distance. When the moved distance of the machine 11 is longer than the set distance, an alarm is issued by an alarming means 15 because the possibility of carrying away the construction machine 11 by a conveying vehicle exists.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a machine theft countermeasure method for dealing with a machine theft.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are the following methods for coping with theft of construction machines such as hydraulic excavators.

(A) A specific key is used for unlocking the cab door and starting the engine.

(B) At the time of unlocking the cab door and starting the engine, an individual is identified and collated by identifying means such as fingerprints, retinas, voiceprints, and personal identification numbers, so that the cab door can be unlocked only by a specific individual. As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-73411, there is one that disables engine starting.

(C) Global Positioning System (hereinafter referred to as "GPS") satellite,
The location information of construction machines is detected by networks such as mobile phone base stations, making it easy to find construction machines after theft.

(D) The operator switches between the parking / storage mode and the normal work mode on the machine body side, detects the movement of the construction machine when the parking / storage mode is set, and detects the GPS satellite or mobile phone base station. Make emergency contact via networks such as.

[0007]

In (a), if there is no specific key, the cab door of the construction machine cannot be unlocked and the engine cannot be started.

In (b), the cab door of the construction machine cannot be unlocked and the engine cannot be started by anyone other than a specific individual.

In (c), it is not possible to determine whether the construction machine is stolen or not by simply detecting the positional information of the construction machine, and it is delayed to notice the theft. In that case, it may be difficult to find the stolen machine.

In (d), since the operator needs to switch the parking / storage mode and the normal work mode each time, this switching may not be performed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for dealing with theft of a machine which can deal with theft of the machine without any operation by a machine operator or the like. .

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an initial position of a machine is detected, a contrasting position of a moved machine is detected, and a moving distance of the machine is monitored from the initial position and the contrasting position. This is a method for coping with theft of a machine that compares the movement distance of the machine with a preset distance and issues a warning when the movement distance is longer than the set distance. When the distance is longer than the set distance, a warning may be issued because the machine may have been carried away by the transport vehicle, so you can understand the risk of theft without requiring special operation by the machine operator, etc. Since the operation is exactly the same as that of a machine not equipped with, high security is obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the machine theft countermeasure method according to the first aspect, the position of the machine is detected at every predetermined time, and if the position of the machine cannot be detected, the predetermined position detection is performed. This is a method for dealing with theft that shortens the time interval for each time, and makes that position the initial position when the position of the machine is detected, in short, after shortening the interval of electronic patrol,
Since the setting of the initial position is started from the time when the position can be confirmed, the machine whose position cannot be confirmed can be caught early and the theft of the machine can be grasped in the early stage.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the method for dealing with theft of a machine according to the first or second aspect, as a result of comparing the moving distance of the machine with the set distance, when the moving distance is shorter than the set distance, and Even if the movement distance is longer than the set distance, if it is confirmed that it is not movement due to theft, in either case, the latest detection position is reset as the initial position, which is a countermeasure against theft, and the machine normally moves to the site. In such a case, since the latest detected position is set as the initial position again, the moving distance of the machine can be accurately monitored based on the latest position information.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a method for coping with theft of a machine, in which a small transmitting device 12 is mounted in a place invisible to a construction machine 11 such as a hydraulic excavator as a machine.

This transmitting device 12 includes several global positioning systems (hereinafter, this system will be referred to as "GP").
GPS information received from the satellite)
It has a function of transmitting the location information of 11 to the management center 13 that manages the location information and the location information of the construction machine 11 obtained through a network such as a mobile phone base station to the management center 13.

The management center 13 is provided with a computer 14 for storing, calculating and analyzing information. This computer 14 is connected to a warning means 15 for warning of theft on the screen of the display device or by a lamp or a buzzer.

The management center 13 includes an operator 16 such as a rental company who owns and operates the construction machine 11, and a user 17 such as a contractor (end user) who rents and uses the construction machine 11 rented by the operator 16. , Connected by wire network.

Next, the basic principle of this machine theft countermeasure method will be described with reference to FIG.

(1) The management center 13 detects the operating place (position) of the construction machine 11 at a certain date and time set by the operator 16, and sets the detected position as an initial position. The set initial position is reported and communicated to the operator 16.

(2) After that, the management center 13 detects the position of the construction machine 11 as a contrast position after an arbitrarily set fixed time (for example, after 3 hours), and from the initial position and the contrast position, the construction machine 11 is detected. Monitor the distance traveled by the 21
And a preset set distance 22 (for example, 5 km) are compared, and it is confirmed whether the moving distance 21 is longer than the set distance 22 (electronic patrol).

(3) When the construction machine 11 has moved from the initial position by a predetermined set distance 22 or more, it is regarded as an abnormality and the warning means 15 issues a warning. The management center 13 reports the warning and the current position to the operator 16 by communication.

(4) The operator 16 determines the place, time, operating conditions,
From the confirmation to the user 17 or the like, it is determined whether the abnormality (theft) or the normal site movement, and when there is a suspicion of the abnormality, the required action is taken. If the operator 16 determines that there is no abnormality during normal site movement, etc., the management center 13 ignores the warning,
Reset the initial position of (1).

(5) When the position cannot be detected in the above (1) or (2) (that is, when the construction machine 11 is located outside the position detectable range), the management center 13 detects the detection interval (electronic patrol interval). After confirming the position of the construction machine 11), perform (1) from the time when the position can be confirmed. This may be a warning.

Next, a specific example of a method for dealing with theft of the construction machine 11 will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. The circled numbers in the figure indicate step numbers.

When the operator 16 lends the construction machine 11 to the user 17, this theft countermeasure system starts based on the rental negotiation order.

(Step 1) First, the construction machine to be rented
It is determined whether or not 11 is provided with position detecting means such as transmitting device 12.

(Step 2) When the position detecting means such as the transmitting device 12 is provided (YES in step 1), a time interval (electronic patrol interval) for detecting the position of the construction machine 11 in the management center 13 is set. To do.

(Step 3) The management center 13 is operated by the operator 16
Attempts to detect the position of the construction machine 11 by using the operating location of the construction machine 11 at a certain date and time set by as position information.

(Step 4) The computer 14 of the management center 13 judges whether or not the position of the construction machine 11 has been detected.

(Step 5) When the position of the construction machine 11 cannot be detected in Step 4 (NO in Step 4), that is, when the construction machine 11 is out of the position detectable range, the computer 14 of the management center 13 At the same time as outputting the warning signal, the process returns to step 2, and the position of the construction machine 11 is tried to be detected after resetting the electronic patrol interval again (step 3).

(Step 6) If the position can be detected in Step 3 (YES in Step 4), the detected position is set as the initial position. This construction machine location is the management center
Report from 13 to operator 16.

(Step 7) The management center 13 then
Attempt to detect the position of the comparison position of the construction machine 11 every time set in step 2 (for example, every 3 hours) (electronic patrol).

(Step 8) The computer 14 of the management center 13 determines whether or not the comparison position of the construction machine 11 has been detected.

(Step 9) When the comparison position in Step 7 cannot be detected (NO in Step 8), a warning is issued and the procedure returns to Step 2 to reset the electronic patrol interval so that the position can be confirmed. The position detection of the initial position and the comparison position is performed from the time when it is possible.

(Step 10) When the computer 14 of the management center 13 can detect the initial position and the comparison position of the construction machine 11 (YES in step 8), the moving distance from the initial position of the construction machine 11 to the comparison position. Calculate 21.

(Step 11) The computer 14 of the management center 13 judges whether or not the moving distance 21 from the initial position to the comparison position is a preset setting distance 22 (for example, 5 km), and the moving distance 21 When set distance is shorter than 22 (NO)
Since a normal on-site movement is considered, the process returns to step 6 and the latest detection position detected in step 7 is reset as the initial position.

(Step 12) The management center 13 moves the moving distance.
If 21 is greater than the set distance 22 (YE in step 11)
S) For the time being, it is regarded as an abnormal situation and the operator 16 is notified of the warning signal and the current position.

(Step 13) The operator 16 determines the place, time,
Abnormal situation (theft) from operating conditions, confirmation to user 17, etc.
If it is suspected that there is an abnormal situation (YES), a necessary action such as contacting the police is taken.

(Step 14) If it is judged in step 13 that it is not an abnormal situation (NO), it is judged whether or not the construction machine 11 is a return movement, and if it is a return movement (YE
S) Terminate this system, and if it is not a return movement (NO), normal on-site movement may be considered, so ignore the warning, return to step 6, and return to the latest detection position detected in step 7. Set again as the initial position.

As described above, according to the theft countermeasure method, the management center 13 which receives the signal transmitted from the transmitter 12 of the construction machine 11 detects the initial position of the construction machine 11 and moves after a certain time. Detects the comparison position of the construction machine 11, monitors the moving distance 21 of the construction machine 11 from the initial position and the comparison position,
The moving distance 21 of the construction machine 11 is compared with a preset setting distance 22, and when the moving distance 21 is longer than the setting distance 22, a warning is issued, and the moving distance that the construction machine 11 has moved in a certain period of time. If the moving distance 21 is longer than the set distance 22, the construction machine 11 may be removed by a transportation vehicle such as a trailer, and a warning is issued. It is possible to grasp the risk of theft without requiring any operation, and moreover, since the operation is exactly the same as that of the construction machine 11 that does not include this antitheft system, high security can be obtained.

Further, in the above theft prevention method, the position of the construction machine 11 is detected at every predetermined time, and when the position of the construction machine 11 cannot be detected, the time interval of the predetermined time for position detection is shortened to perform the construction. When the position of the machine 11 is detected, that position is set as the initial position.In short, the interval of the electronic patrol is shortened, and the setting of the initial position is started when the position can be confirmed. The construction machine 11 that could not be caught can be caught early so that the theft of the construction machine 11 can be grasped at an early stage.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned method for dealing with theft is the construction machine 11
As a result of comparing the movement distance 21 of
If either 21 is shorter than the set distance 22 or if the movement distance 21 is longer than the set distance 22 and it is confirmed that the movement is not due to theft, the latest detection position is reset as the initial position. When the construction machine 11 normally moves on site, the latest detection position is reset as the initial position, so that the movement distance 21 of the construction machine 11 can be accurately monitored based on the latest position information.

As described above, the user 17 or the machine operator of the construction machine 11 does not need to perform any operation, and the operation is exactly the same as that of the construction machine 11 without this system. Therefore, it is not necessary to inform the user 17 or the machine operator whether or not the system is installed, and security is high.

Further, the transmitter 12 mounted on the construction machine 11
Since it is a low-priced, highly reliable, small-sized and lightweight device, it is difficult to find and is unlikely to be removed when it is installed in a place invisible to the construction machine 11.

Further, since the current position of the construction machine 11 can be grasped, it is useful for the user 17 in dealing with services other than the theft countermeasure.

The theft countermeasure method is not limited to the construction machine 11 and can be widely applied to other machines.

[0049]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the distance traveled by the machine is monitored, and when the distance traveled is longer than the set distance, there is a risk that the machine has been carried away by the haul vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to grasp the risk of theft without requiring a special operation by a machine operator or the like, and since the same operation as that of a machine not equipped with this system can be performed, high security can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in short, the interval between the electronic patrols is shortened, and the initial position setting is started from the time when the position can be confirmed. You can catch it and catch the machine theft in the early days.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the machine normally moves on site, the latest detected position is reset as the initial position, so that the moving distance of the machine is accurately monitored based on the latest position information. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a system for implementing a machine theft countermeasure method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an outline of a method for coping with theft.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the theft countermeasure method of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Construction machinery as a machine 21 distance traveled 22 set distance

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Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An initial position of a machine is detected, a contrasting position of a moved machine is detected, a moving distance of the machine is monitored from the initial position and the contrasting position, and a moving distance of the machine and a preset distance are set. And a warning method when the movement distance is longer than the set distance. 2. The position of the machine is detected every predetermined time, and when the position of the machine cannot be detected, the time interval for every predetermined time of position detection is shortened, and the position of the machine is detected when the position is detected. The method for coping with theft of a machine according to claim 1, wherein is set as an initial position. 3. As a result of comparison between the moving distance of the machine and the set distance, either the moving distance is shorter than the set distance or the moving distance is longer than the set distance and it is confirmed that the movement is not due to theft. The method for coping with theft of a machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the case of one of the above, the latest detected position is reset as an initial position.