JP2003284120A - Warning apparatus for mobile communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the security of a mobile communication terminal and to protect an operator from an accident. <P>SOLUTION: When a setting section 20 sets a position detection section 30 of a mobile phone 1 to a danger warning mode, the detection section 30 receives GPS information by a wireless signal from a GPS satellite (not shown) to continuously acquire geometrical position information of a current location of the mobile phone 1 and transmits the geographical position information to a map server 100 at an interval of 5 minutes. The map server 100 uses a searching section 60 to search map information in a range of 10 km square around the geometrical position indicative of the geometrical position information received from the mobile phone 1 from a map information storage section 55 storing the map information representative of the geometrical range of dangerous areas in the whole of Japan and returns the result to the mobile phone 1 via a communication section 10. A storage section 25 of the mobile phone 1 stores the map information received via a communication section 10. An information analysis section 35 confirms whether or not the geographical position of the current position is resident in a dangerous area on the basis of the geographical position information of the current position obtained by the position detection section 30 and the map information stored by the storage section 25 and allows a warning section 40 to raise a warning tone when in the dangerous area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a warning device for a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly to a warning device for notifying a user of the mobile communication terminal of a danger.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones and mobile tools for sending and receiving electronic mail have been rapidly spreading. These mobile communication terminals have come to be used in various forms such as playing games, accessing the Internet, and shopping online, as well as the original calls, sending and receiving e-mail, and so on. There is. In addition, the functions of mobile communication terminals have been enhanced according to these various types of usage, and mobile communication terminals with a camera for capturing images have already become common knowledge, and are equipped with a GPS function.
Mobile communication terminals that can know the geographical location of the current location are attracting attention in television commercials and the like.

[0003]

However, while the enhancement of the functions of the portable communication terminal as described above brings a great convenience to the user, it brings a danger to the user of the portable communication terminal depending on the usage method. Sometimes. For example, a user who enjoys playing a game using a mobile phone with a game function while walking, or who is absorbed in web pages or screens such as e-mails may enter a dangerous area such as a railroad crossing without realizing it. There is a possibility of accidents such as accidents or collision with electric poles or other obstacles, and in the worst case, an accident that may cause the death of the user may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a warning device for a mobile communication terminal which can protect the user from danger while utilizing the convenience of the mobile communication terminal. It is a thing.

[0005]

A warning device for a mobile communication terminal (hereinafter abbreviated as warning device) of the present invention is a risk judging means for judging the danger of the current location of the mobile communication terminal, and the danger judging means. According to the present invention, there is provided warning means for issuing a warning when it is determined that the risk of the present location is high.

Here, the portable communication terminal to which the warning device of the present invention is applied includes any portable communication terminal such as a portable telephone and a portable tool for sending and receiving electronic mail.

The warning device of the present invention is for a mobile communication terminal, and may be built in the mobile communication terminal and integrated with the mobile communication terminal, or used by connecting to the mobile communication terminal. It may be a stand-alone type.

The "warning" issued by the warning means means the user of the mobile communication terminal (whether the warning device of the present invention is integrated with the mobile communication terminal or used by connecting to the mobile communication terminal. Therefore, the user of the mobile communication terminal can simultaneously notify the danger to the user of the warning device). Examples include warning messages that are displayed and blinking lights.

The danger level judgment means in the warning device of the present invention is a danger area information acquisition means for acquiring danger area information indicating a geographical range of the danger area, and a position monitoring for continuously acquiring information indicating the geographical position of the present location. Means, the geographic position of the current location acquired by the position monitoring means,
It can be determined that the risk of the current location is high when the geographical area is within the dangerous area.

Here, the "dangerous area information" indicates the geographical range of the dangerous area such as railroad crossings, cliffs, and ponds, and may be map information indicating the geographical range of the dangerous area. Further, the dangerous area information acquisition means may be, for example, one that acquires dangerous area information of all over Japan, or one that acquires the dangerous area information near the current location from the viewpoint of reducing the burden on the mobile communication terminal. It is preferable that

Further, the warning device of the present invention is provided with a storage device, and when the warning device is sold or at any time the owner of the warning device desires, the dangerous area information in a range desired by the owner is recorded in the storage device. The dangerous area information acquisition means may acquire the dangerous area information from the storage device, but the dangerous area information is acquired without preliminarily storing the dangerous area information in the warning device of the present invention. It is preferable that the means acquires the dangerous area information from a server device connectable via a network when necessary. Here, "when necessary" means, for example, when the operator requires a danger warning by a warning device, and for example, a warning device that can set "danger warning mode" and "normal mode" In this case, it can be set when the "danger warning mode" is set or when the power of the warning device is turned on.

Further, the position monitoring means determines the geographical position of the present location of the portable communication terminal (which is also the present location of the warning device of the present invention which is integrated with the portable communication terminal or connected to the portable communication terminal). Anything that can be acquired can be used, and examples thereof include a GPS position detection device, etc. Further, when the mobile communication terminal has a position detection function such as GPS, it is a mobile communication terminal. You may use the GPS position detection function of.

The risk degree judging means of the present invention comprises surrounding condition monitoring means for continuing to monitor at least the front of the current position in the moving direction of the portable terminal, and the surrounding condition monitoring means allows the danger level judging means to be within a predetermined range in front of the surrounding area. When an obstacle is detected, it may be determined that the risk of the present location is high.

Here, the "monitoring" by the surrounding condition monitoring means can be taken as taking an image of the predetermined range with a camera or the like, and at this time, the risk degree judging means
For example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-107096, movement of the same point on a target object projected in two temporally successive images obtained by imaging with an imaging device such as a camera. Is detected as an optical flow,
An obstacle can be detected based on its size and appearance position.

[0015]

According to the warning device for a mobile communication terminal of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the geographical position of the mobile communication terminal is within the geographical range of the dangerous area, or a predetermined range ahead of the moving direction of the communication terminal device. Based on whether or not an obstacle is detected inside, the degree of danger of the current location of the mobile communication terminal is determined, and when the degree of danger is high, the warning means can notify the user of the mobile communication terminal of the danger. Even if the user of the mobile communication terminal uses the mobile communication terminal while walking, it is safe because the user can notice the danger.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A mobile phone safety system according to a first embodiment of a warning device for a mobile communication terminal of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone safety system of this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the mobile phone safety system according to the present embodiment includes a mobile phone 1 serving as a communication terminal and a map server 100 providing map information indicating a geographical range of a dangerous area in Japan. 1 and the map server 100 are connectable via a public communication network.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone 1 in the mobile phone safety system shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the mobile phone 1 uses the mobile phone 1 and a communication unit 10 for performing transmission / reception with other communication terminals, accessing the Internet, and the like.
To set the operation mode of the operation unit 15 for making a call, reading an e-mail, playing a game, and the like, and the operation mode of the mobile phone 1 to the “danger warning mode” or the “normal mode” When the "danger warning mode" is set by the setting unit 20 and the setting unit 20, the antenna (not shown) receives GPS information by a radio signal from a GPS satellite (not shown) and receives the geographical position of the present location of the mobile phone 1. The information A0 is acquired and transmitted to the map server 100 via the communication unit 10, and thereafter the power of the mobile phone 1 is turned off, or the setting unit 20 sets the "normal mode".
Until it is set again, the geolocation information of the current location of the mobile phone 1 (A1 is distinguished from the geolocation information A0 described above)
The position detection unit 35 that continuously acquires the information and outputs it to the information analysis unit 35 described below, and the area 10 km around the geographical position indicated by the geographical position information A0 transmitted from the position detection unit 30 transmitted by the map server 100. Storage unit 25 that stores the map information S indicating the geographic range of the dangerous area, the geographic position information A1 of the current position that is continuously output from the position detection unit 25, and the map information S stored by the storage unit 25. And the geographic position indicated by the geographic position information A1 is within the range of the dangerous area indicated by the map information S, it is determined that the degree of risk is high, and the determination result is output to the warning unit 40 described later. Information analysis unit 35 and information analysis unit 35
The warning unit 40 sounds a warning sound according to the result of the judgment that the degree of danger is high. The position detector 3
0 transmits the geographic position information A0 of the current location to the map server 100 for the first time, and then transmits the geographic position information A0 of the new current location to the map server 100 every 5 minutes. The map server 100 uses the position detection unit 3
Every time the geographic position information A0 of the current position is received from 0, the map information in the 10 square km range returned is updated every 5 minutes.

FIG. 3 is a map server 1 according to this embodiment.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of 00. As shown in the figure, the map server 100 according to the present embodiment includes a communication unit 50 that transmits and receives data to and from the mobile phone 1, a map information storage unit 55 that stores map information indicating the geographical range of the dangerous area throughout Japan,
Based on the geographical position information A0 of the current location of the mobile phone 1 received via the communication unit 50, from the map information storage unit 55,
The search unit 60 detects the map information S in the peripheral 10 square km range centered on the geographic position indicated by the geographic position information A0 of the present location and transmits the map information S to the mobile phone 1 via the communication unit 50.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, the operation of the mobile phone safety system of this embodiment will be described more specifically. In order to make the gist of the present invention easier to understand, when explaining the operation of the mobile phone 1, the operation unit 15 for making a call, reading an e-mail, playing a game, etc. The description is omitted.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile phone safety system shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, in the mobile phone 1, when the "danger warning mode" is set by the setting unit 20 (S10: Yes), first, the position detecting unit 3
0 receives GPS information by a radio signal from a GPS satellite via an antenna (not shown) to obtain geographical position information A0 of the current location of the mobile phone 1, and transmits it to the map server 100 via the communication unit 10. (S15, S20). When the search unit 60 of the map server 100 receives the geographic position information A0 from the position detection unit 30 via the communication unit 50, the search unit 60 of the geographic position indicated by the geopositional information A0 from the map information storage unit 55 is 10 square km around the geographic position. The map information S indicating the geographical range of the dangerous area within the range is detected and returned to the mobile phone 1. The storage unit 25 of the mobile phone 1 stores the map information S received from the communication unit 10 from the server 100 (S
25, S30). Further, even after the start of the position detection in step S15, the position detection unit 30 continues to acquire the geographical position information A1 of the current location of the mobile phone 1 and outputs it to the information analysis unit 35, and at every 5 minutes, the current location of the current location. Geolocation information A
1, that is, the geographical position information A0 of the current location at that time is transmitted to the map server 100. Search unit 6 of the map server 100
Each time 0 receives the geographic position information A0 from the mobile phone 1 via the communication unit 50, the map information storage unit stores the map information S in the range of 10 square km around the geographic position indicated by the geographic position information A0. Search from 55 and return to mobile phone 1. The storage unit 25 updates the storage content each time new map information S is received from the server 100 via the communication unit 10 (S40: Yes, S20, S25, S30).

On the other hand, the information analysis unit 35 of the mobile phone 1 is
The geographic position information A1 of the current position and the map information S stored in the storage unit 25 are continuously analyzed (S50), and the geographic position indicated by the geographic position information A1 is changed by the map information S. When it is in the geographic range (for example, the railroad crossing zone) of the dangerous area shown, it is determined that the danger level is high, and the warning sound is output to the warning unit 40 (S5).
5: Yes, S60), when the geographic position indicated by the geographic position information A1 is outside the geographic range of the dangerous area indicated by the map information S, it is determined that the degree of risk is low, the warning sound is not emitted, and analysis is performed. (S55: No) is continued.

It should be noted that steps S15 to S60
The operation up to is reset to the “normal mode” by the setting unit 20 of the mobile phone 1, or the power of the mobile phone 1 is turned off.
Repeated until FF.

As described above, according to the mobile phone safety system of the present embodiment, by setting the "danger warning mode", the information analysis unit 35 detects that the position detection unit 30 continues to detect the mobile phone. Geolocation information A1 of current location
And whether or not the current location of the mobile phone is located in a dangerous area such as a crossing zone based on the map information S stored in the storage section 25, and when the current location is located in the dangerous area, the warning section Since the warning sound is emitted by 40, the operator can notice the danger even when operating the mobile phone while walking and prevent an accident.

Further, for example, in the case of a takeoff, the geographic range of the dangerous area is not within the takeoff zone but a predetermined range including the takeoff zone, and the operator gives a warning before entering the takeoff zone. Safer.

In addition, the mobile phone safety system of this embodiment is designed to acquire the map information S around the present location from the map server 100 in order to reduce the load on the mobile phone. Information may be stored, and when the storage unit has a sufficient capacity, for example, map information of all over Japan may be stored.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mobile phone 2 which is a second embodiment of the warning device of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, the mobile phone 2 of the present embodiment uses the mobile phone 2 and a communication unit 110 for performing transmission / reception with another communication terminal, accessing the Internet, and the like. To set the operation mode of the operation unit 115 for making a call, reading an email, playing a game, and the like, and the operation mode of the mobile phone 2 to the "danger warning mode" or the "normal mode" Setting unit 12
0 and when the setting unit 120 sets the “danger warning mode”, the orientation of the camera 130 to be described later is set to the mobile phone 2
Horizontally to the front of the operator who operates the (the front direction of the operator when operating the mobile phone, that is, the front of the moving direction of the operator and the mobile phone when the operator moves while operating) And the camera control unit 125 that keeps the camera 130 taking an image, and the direction is adjustable, and the direction is adjusted manually by the operator and in the direction adjusted by the camera direction adjustment unit 125, and when the shutter is pressed, A camera 130 that performs shooting when the camera control unit 125 controls shooting, an information analysis unit 135 that analyzes a front image obtained by shooting by the camera 130, and determines a risk level, and an information analysis When the unit 135 determines that the degree of danger is high, the warning unit 140 is configured to issue a warning sound to issue a warning.

Various methods have been proposed for determining the degree of danger by detecting an obstacle ahead by using an image in the front of the moving direction obtained by shooting with a camera, a video camera or the like. Information analysis unit 13 in mobile phone 2
5 detects an obstacle by using the method proposed in JP-A-6-107096 as an example. That is, the information analysis unit 135 of the mobile phone 2 of the present embodiment first
Attention is paid to the subjects (electric poles, buildings, etc.) in two images at time t and time t + Δt obtained by continuously photographing the front of the camera 130 (corresponding to images a and b), and corresponding to these subjects. The velocity vector is obtained by finding points from image a and image b and connecting them with lines. This velocity vector is an optical flow. What are these optical flows? FOE (Focus in the image
It appears radially from one point called of Expansion. FOE is called infinity point or vanishing point,
When the mobile phone 2 and the operator go straight ahead, this corresponds to one point indicating the traveling direction. In this way, the optical flow required when the mobile phone 2 and the operator are moving, or the radial direction from the FOE is presented. Here, the optical flow emitted from the front subject includes information such as the position and relative speed of the subject with respect to the mobile phone 2 and the operator, and the longer the optical flow, the higher the risk.

The information analysis unit 135 of the mobile phone 2 uses the front image continuously captured by the camera 130,
The optical flow emitted from the subject in front is obtained, and when the optical flow exceeds the length of a predetermined threshold value, the subject is detected as an obstacle and the determination result that the degree of risk is high is output to the warning unit 140. . Warning part 1
When the determination result that the degree of risk is high is received from the information analysis unit 135, 40 issues a warning sound and issues a warning.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile phone 2 of this embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the mobile phone 2 of the present embodiment, when the setting unit 120 sets the "danger warning mode" (S110: Yes), first, the camera control unit 125 sets the orientation of the camera 130 to the forward direction. The camera 130 is adjusted in the horizontal direction and the camera 130 is made to perform continuous shooting (S115, S120). Information analysis unit 1
Reference numeral 35 denotes an optical flow of a subject in images obtained by continuously shooting with the camera 130. When the length of the optical flow of a subject exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the subject is regarded as an obstacle. , Informs the warning unit that the degree of risk is high (S125, S130: Yes). When the warning unit 140 receives the determination result that the degree of risk is high from the information analysis unit 135, it issues a warning sound to give a warning (S).
135). On the other hand, when the obstacle is not detected in step S130 (S130: No), step S130
The processing from 120 is repeated.

Further, the processing from step S120, that is, the processing such as the photographing by the camera 130, the obstacle detection by the information analysis unit 135, the risk determination, etc., is performed by the setting unit 120 by turning off the power of the mobile phone 2. Normal mode "
It continues until it is reset to.

As described above, according to the mobile phone 2 of the present embodiment, the optical flow of each subject is obtained from the images obtained by continuously photographing the front of the mobile phone 2 and the moving direction of the operator, When the optical flow of a certain subject exceeds the length of a predetermined threshold value, this subject is detected as an obstacle and it is judged that the degree of danger is high, and at the same time, a warning sound is emitted to operate the mobile phone while walking. The operator can be prevented from accidents such as hitting an obstacle and the operator's safety can be protected.

Although the preferred embodiment of the warning device for a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention has been described above, the warning device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and the present invention is not limited thereto. You can make various changes and additions.

For example, in the above-described two warning devices, the mobile phone is provided with the functions related to the danger warning such as judging the degree of danger and issuing a warning, thereby reducing the production cost and the convenience of the operator. However, the warning device of the present invention may be a stand-alone type having an interface for connecting to a mobile phone and used by connecting to the mobile phone.

The mobile communication terminal to which the warning device of the present invention is applied is not limited to a mobile phone, and may be any mobile communication terminal such as a mobile tool for sending and receiving electronic mail, a mobile tool for internet access, and the like.

Further, the warning given by the warning unit is not limited to the one given by voice, but may be any one that can inform the operator of the danger.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone safety system which is a first embodiment of a warning device for a mobile communication terminal of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone 1 in the mobile phone safety system shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a map server 100 in the mobile phone safety system shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile phone safety system shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mobile phone 2 which is a second embodiment of the warning device for mobile communication terminals of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the mobile phone 2 shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 mobile phone 2 mobile phones 10 Communication unit 15 Operation part 20 setting section 25 memory 30 Position detector 35 Information Analysis Department 40 Warning section 50 Communications Department 55 Map information storage 60 Search Department 100 map server 110 Communication unit 115 Operation part 120 setting section 125 camera control unit 130 cameras 135 Information Analysis Department 140 Warning part

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI theme code (reference) H04M 3/42 H04B 7/26 106A 11/00 302 MF term (reference) 5C086 BA13 DA08 5K024 AA76 CC11 FF05 GG10 5K027 AA11 BB01 FF12 FF25 5K067 AA21 AA35 BB04 BB21 EE02 EE10 FF03 FF23 FF25 HH22 HH23 5K101 KK16 LL12 NN12

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A risk determination means for determining the risk of the current location of the mobile communication terminal, and a warning means for issuing a warning when the risk determination means determines that the risk of the current location is high. A warning device for a mobile communication terminal, characterized by being provided. 2. The risk degree judging means comprises: dangerous area information acquiring means for acquiring dangerous area information indicating a geographical range of the dangerous area; and position monitoring means for continuously acquiring information indicating a geographical position of the current location. A warning for a mobile communication terminal, wherein when the geographic position of the current location acquired by the position monitoring means is within the geographic range of the dangerous area, it is determined that the risk of the current location is high. apparatus. 3. The mobile communication terminal warning device according to claim 2, wherein the dangerous area information acquiring means acquires the dangerous area information near the current location. 4. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein the dangerous area information acquisition means acquires the dangerous area information from a server device connectable via a network. 5. The risk determining means is configured to detect the current location,
A surrounding condition monitoring unit that continues to monitor at least the front of the moving direction of the mobile terminal is provided, and when an obstacle is detected within the predetermined range in front by the surrounding condition monitoring unit, the risk of the current location is high. The warning device for a mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the warning device is for judging.