JP2004032575A - Position-retrieving system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a position-retrieving system by which data of actions by a retrieval object are collected, and utilized, and then a report determining condition is customized, and flexibly set by utilizing the action data. <P>SOLUTION: A structure is arranged to set the report determining condition, corresponding to an individual retrieval object 3. A report is determined through the use of the position of the retrieval object 3 and the report determining condition, and then the report is given to a person to be reported 8, when there is agreement with the determining condition. A service provider 5 uses position information 10 of the retrieval object 3 and positioning time as auxiliary information. It is favorable to provide convenience for inputting the proper report determining condition. The time and position information are automatically collected by using the position detecting system, and the action pattern of the retrieval object can be learned. Thus, the labor of collecting information is relieved, and the cost is reduced. Since the proper report determining condition is inputted by using the action pattern as auxiliary information, the report is determined with high reliability, and convenience is enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a position search system and a position search service for a person or an object using a position detection system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the CDMA digital mobile communication system, the time difference between the plurality of base stations when transmitting the PN code is obtained by using the coordinates of the plurality of base stations and the propagation time of the signal transmitted from the plurality of base stations to the mobile terminal. An example of measuring the position of a mobile terminal is disclosed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-181242 discloses that in a CDMA cellular system in which each base station is GPS-synchronized, a terminal position is measured by triangulation by observing a reception timing of a pilot signal arriving from each base station. I have.
Further, a positioning system for a mobile phone called gpsOne, which is a combination of a GPS (Global Positioning System) and a positioning system based on a cellular system base station, is known. gpsOne is described in, for example, NIKKEI COMMUNICATIONS, pp. 117-120, 2000.9.18.
Location information provision and express services are provided as commercial services using gpsOne. As such a service, for example, Coco Secom by SECOM is known. In this service, a search target carries a position detecting device that receives a GPS signal and a signal from a base station. The service subscriber accesses the dedicated website on the Internet using a mobile phone or a personal computer to search for the current location of the target person. There is also a service in which a subscriber calls a service provider and a specialized operator notifies the location. Alternatively, the object to be searched may be an object, and a position detecting device is mounted on the vehicle, and when the vehicle moves without a predetermined procedure due to theft or the like, the vehicle is detected as abnormal and a signal is sent from the vehicle to the business operator. The business operator monitors the abnormality and notifies the subscriber immediately when the abnormality occurs. In some cases, emergency responders may rush from emergency start bases located in various areas of the service area to search for vehicles and ensure safety.
[0003]
On March 17, 2001, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that in a nursing home, a computer compares the resident's behavior pattern with the resident's movement captured by a sensor. A notification system is disclosed. This system discloses that a developer collects in advance a resident's behavior pattern and records it in a computer.
[0004]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H6-112887 discloses a position notification device that receives and accumulates information such as a permanent position known from a third party, measures its own position, and determines a deviation from an allowable movement range. A third party collects and sets the scope of action. If the position notification device determines that the position has deviated from the allowable range of movement, the position notification device notifies a third party of that fact. There is no disclosure of an example of collecting information for determining a condition to be registered for determination of a notification, such as a movement allowable range of a monitoring target. There is no disclosure of an example of determining a notification condition using position information and time information.
[0005]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-289574 discloses a mobile position monitoring device that automatically notifies and controls according to a notification method when a monitoring condition is satisfied based on terminal position information. When a monitoring condition of entering or exiting a target area specified on a map or the like is satisfied, notification is performed according to a notification method. An example is disclosed in which it is determined whether the time is within a specified target time and a notification is made if the time is within the determination time. There is no disclosure of an example of collecting information that determines conditions to be specified for notification determination.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Rather than the service subscriber acquiring and monitoring location information from the service provider, service provided by the service provider when the abnormal situation such as theft or wandering seems to have occurred is more convenient. By notifying only when an event to be notified occurs, the amount of communication information between the service provider and the service subscriber can be reduced. In addition, since the search target having an abnormal situation such as an accident is reported from the service provider without voluntarily reporting, the reliability and security are high. At this time, the condition for determining the event to be notified is problematic, but it is considered effective to refer to the behavior pattern of the search target person or the search target for determining the abnormal situation. In this case, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to collect the behavior data. One of the objects of the present invention is to save labor in collecting behavior data of a search target person.
[0007]
Furthermore, in the conventional position search service, there is no mechanism for customizing the notification determination conditions according to the search target, and it is not possible to control the notification in a detailed manner. Another object of the present invention is a position search system in which a service subscriber or service provider can flexibly set conditions for notification determination.
[0008]
It is considered that it is effective to refer to an action pattern for setting detailed notification determination conditions. For example, when a child goes to school, there are times when there are multiple school routes and parents do not know which way they usually go. In such a case, the accuracy of the determination can be improved by first setting the conditions for the notification determination with reference to the detailed school road information. Also, for example, the pet's range of activity and the like often cannot be grasped even by the owner. If the action pattern is provided at the time of setting the condition, a highly accurate abnormality determination can be performed. Customizing the notification determination condition using the behavior pattern of the search target person is one of the other objects of the present invention.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The system of the present invention automatically collects time and position information using a position detection system used in a service, and learns a behavior pattern of a search target person. In the present invention, a mechanism is provided in which a service subscriber or a service provider sets notification determination conditions according to individual search targets. The system of the present invention performs notification determination using the position of the search target person and the notification determination condition. Further, the service provider notifies the notification target person when the determination condition is satisfied. Also, it is convenient for a subscriber or a business operator to input appropriate notification determination conditions using the behavior pattern as auxiliary information. Specifically, the position or range of the search target is displayed to the condition input user along with the map information. Further, the position or range of the search target with respect to time is displayed for the condition input user along with the map information.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an example of a location search system in which a subscriber inputs a notification determination and customizes determination conditions. The position of the search target 3 is determined in the position detection system 2, and the position information 10 of the search target 3 is sent to the service provider 5 via the network 4. The computer 7 of the service provider stores the location information 10 in the storage unit 6 as the behavior data of the search target person. Further, the behavior data is information unique to the search target that indicates the tendency of the search target to exist in the space and time, and includes “a spatial coordinate series that is a positioning result of the search target or its history” or “ It may be a “time sequence corresponding to the spatial coordinate sequence” or “spatio-temporal information obtained by processing the sequence”. "Spatiotemporal information obtained by processing the series" means, for example, an administrative area including a spatial coordinate series, a range including a circle within a certain distance from each coordinate of the spatial coordinate series, or a certain time. The moving speed (moving direction and speed) and the speed (moving size) calculated from the area and the range, the spatial coordinate series and the time series obtained for each band. The computer 7 of the service provider sends the subscriber 1 the auxiliary information 16 for notification determination input including the information stored in the storage means 6 and the map data 18. The subscriber 1 sends the notification determination condition 11 to the computer 7. The subscriber 1 sends a designation 12 of the notification target to the computer 7. The computer 7 of the service provider performs the notification determination using the position information 10, the information stored in the storage unit 6, and the notification determination condition 11. Alternatively, the computer 7 of the service provider performs the notification determination using the position information 10 and the notification determination condition 11. The computer 7 sends the notification 13 to the notification target 8 when the notification determination is performed or when it is determined that the notification should be performed or the abnormality is determined to be abnormal. The service provider 5 charges the subscriber 1. Here, the notification target 8 may be the subscriber 1 or the notification target 8 may be plural. Further, the position detection system may be a system that receives a signal from a base station of a cellular system and measures the position of a search target person as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-181242, or a system that uses GPS such as gpsOne. If necessary, the search target 3 carries a position detecting device that receives a positioning signal and transmits a positioning result. For example, the position detecting device may be a portable terminal having a positioning function based on a signal from a base station of a cellular system. Further, for example, the position detection device may be a portable terminal having a positioning function using gpsOne.
[0011]
FIG. 2 is an example of a position search system in which an operator of a service provider inputs notification determination and customizes determination conditions. The position of the search target 3 is determined in the position detection system 2, and the position information 10 of the search target 3 is sent to the service provider 5 via the network 4. The computer 7 of the service provider stores the location information 10 in the storage unit 6 as the behavior data of the search target person. The computer 7 of the service provider displays the information accumulated in the storage unit 6 and the auxiliary information 16 of the notification determination input including the map data 18 to the operator 9. For example, the computer 7 may be a personal computer having a user interface such as a display, in which case the auxiliary information 16 is displayed on the display. The subscriber 1 may send the notification determination condition 17 to the operator 9. The operator 9 inputs the notification determination condition 11 to the computer 7. For example, the computer 7 may be a personal computer having a user interface such as a keyboard. In this case, the operator 11 inputs the condition 11 by operating the keyboard. The subscriber 1 sends a designation 12 of the notification target to the computer 7. The computer 7 of the service provider performs the notification determination using the position information 10, the information stored in the storage unit 6, and the notification determination condition 11. Alternatively, the computer 7 of the service provider performs the notification determination using the position information 10 and the notification determination condition 11. The computer 7 sends a notification 13 to the notification target person 8 when it is determined that the notification is abnormal as a result of the notification determination. The service provider 5 charges the subscriber 1. The computer 7 of the service provider 5 repeatedly performs positioning, downloading of results, and saving of results, and collects a series of spatial coordinate series and time series. The operator of the service provider operates the computer to specify a search target, start information collection, specify a collection period, specify a collection time interval, specify a storage destination, and the like. The operator 9 does not operate, monitor, or input results for each positioning, and the computer 7 controls and processes a series of information collection. The search target also holds the terminal, but does not perform the operation every time positioning or information is updated.
[0012]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a service flow in the system shown in FIG. The subscriber 1 sends a subscription application 24, a behavior data acquisition period 25 to be searched, and information 12 to be notified to the service provider. 24, 25, 12 may be sent via a network or by mail. If necessary, the service provider 5 sends the subscriber 1 a position detecting device 21 necessary for positioning the search target 3. The subscriber places or carries the position detecting device 21 as a search target, and sends a data acquisition confirmation 31 to the service provider 5. The service provider 5 receives the data acquisition confirmation 31 and periodically performs the positioning for a period designated by the behavior data acquisition period 25 to acquire the position information 22,... The position information 10 in FIG.
[0013]
The service provider 5 stores the position information 22,... After receiving the data acquisition confirmation 31, the service provider 5 subscribes to the information 16 including the information stored in the storage unit 6 and the map data stored in the storage unit 18 after a period designated by the behavior data acquisition period 25. To the first person. The subscriber 1 sends the notification determination condition 11 to the service provider 5. The service provider 5 checks the condition 11 and sends a condition confirmation 26 to the subscriber 1. The condition confirmation 26 indicates the condition 11 to the subscriber again for confirmation. The service provider 5 starts monitoring the search target person. The service provider 5 obtains the position information 28,. . . , 29, and 30, the information stored in the storage unit 6, and the notification determination condition 11 are used to make a notification determination. Alternatively, the service provider 5 obtains the position information 28,. . . , 29, and 30 and the condition 11 for the notification determination. The computer 7 of the service provider 5 sends the location information 28,. . . , 29, and 30 to determine the notification. When the location information 30 of the search target matches the notification determination condition 11, the service provider 5 sends a notification 13 to the notification target 8. The notification 13 may be that the notification has been matched with the notification determination 11, the position information 30 may be used, or the position information 30 and the map data 18 may be sent. The service provider 5 charges the subscriber 1 14.
[0014]
Hereinafter, an example of the accounting 14 method will be described. One of the billing methods is that the longer the learning period of the behavior pattern of the search target specified by the behavior data acquisition period 25 sent by the subscriber 1 is, the longer the service provider 5 will charge the service subscriber. For example, the higher the learning period designated by 25 is one day, three days, one week, and one month, the higher the fee is charged.
[0015]
In addition, the more the types of action patterns to be searched, the higher the service provider charges the service subscriber. For example, it is assumed that the learning period of the behavior data is constant, and the behavior pattern of the subscriber A during the entire learning period is shown in FIG. 4, and the behavior pattern of the subscriber B during the entire learning period is shown in FIG. It is assumed that the subscriber A has 41, 42 action patterns every day, the subscriber B has 41, 42 action patterns only on Monday, and the rest has 48 action patterns. Since there are more subscribers B, a higher fee is charged than subscriber A.
[0016]
In addition, the service provider charges the service subscriber more expensively as the search target action range is wider. For example, assume that the behavior patterns of the subscribers A and B are shown in FIG. It is assumed that the subscriber A has 41 and 42 behavior patterns and the subscriber B has 48 behavior patterns. Since the subscriber B has a wider behavior pattern, the subscriber B is charged higher than the subscriber A.
[0017]
Also, the shorter the monitoring time interval of the search target person, the higher the service provider charges the service subscriber. For example, the service provider 5 searches for the location information 28,. . . , 29, and 30 are acquired at regular time intervals, and a notification determination is made. As the monitoring time interval increases to 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes, and 30 minutes, a lower fee is charged.
[0018]
In addition, as the frequency of notifying the status of the search target such as the position information, the determination result, and the behavior data of the search target increases, the service provider charges the service subscriber to a higher price.
[0019]
FIG. 5 shows an example of the information format stored in the storage means 6. This is an example in which the position and time of the positioning result of the position detection system 2 are accumulated. The search target identifier 60, time 61, 62, latitude 63, longitude 64 are stored. The identifier 60 is information for identifying the search target 3. The latitude 63 and the longitude 64 are positioning results of the search target 3 and are transmitted by the position information 10. Times 61 and 62 are times measured by the position detection system 2 or times when the business operator 5 receives the position information 10, and is specified by, for example, year, month, day, hour, minute, and second. In this example, 61 designates the day and 62 designates the hour, minute and second. The position information 10 may include the time at which the position was detected by the position detection system 2.
[0020]
FIG. 6 shows another example of the information format stored in the storage means 6. 6 is an example of storing data obtained by processing the stored information shown in FIG. 5. In this example, the average of the position at time 62 for the day represented by 61 is obtained and accumulated as action data. In FIG. 5, information for k days from D1 to Dk is accumulated. The records for one day are n pieces collected at times T1, T2,..., Tn. The latitude 72 at the time Ti is calculated from Xi ′ = (Xd1i + Xd2i +... + Xdki) / k, and the longitude 73 is calculated from Yi ′ = (Yd1i + Yd2i +... + Ydki) / k. The average latitude 72 and longitude 73 at times T1, T2,..., Tn of one day are accumulated.
[0021]
FIG. 7 shows another example of the information format stored in the storage means 6. 6 is an example of storing data obtained by processing the stored information shown in FIG. 5. The barycentric positions 76 and 77 and the distance 78 from the barycentric position are obtained for each time zone 75 and stored as action data. The distance from the position of the center of gravity may be the maximum value of the distances between the positions 63 and 64 of the time zone accumulated in FIG. 5 and those centers of gravity, and the position of the search target person within that distance with a certain probability. The distance from the center of gravity of the positions 63 and 64 of the time zone that are distributed may be used.
[0022]
FIG. 8 is an example of the notification determination input auxiliary information 16 including the map data and the action data of the search target person 3. For example, the map 45 and the action data 41 and 42 are displayed in a superimposed manner for each time zone.
[0023]
FIG. 9 is a format example of the position information 10 sent from the position detection system. Reference numeral 65 denotes control information such as a communication address of the network 4. 66 is an identifier of the search target 3. Reference numeral 67 denotes a time when the positioning of the search target 3 was performed in the position information system. Reference numerals 68 and 69 denote positioning results of the search target 3, which are the latitude and longitude of the search target 3, respectively.
[0024]
FIG. 10 is an example of a flowchart of a condition determination process performed by the computer 7 of the service provider. The computer 7 repeats this process and monitors the movement of the search target 3. In S1, the position information 10 of the search target 3 is received. In S2, the identifier 66, the time 67, the latitude 68, and the longitude 69 to be searched are recorded in the storage means in the computer 7. In S3, preprocessing of the information recorded in 6 and the information recorded in S2 is performed. A determination is made in S4. It is assumed that the determination condition is set in advance at 11. If the condition is satisfied in S4, a notification process S5 is performed, and if not, the process ends. For example, in the following cases, the service provider 5 notifies the notification target 8 in S5.
[0025]
28,. . . , 29, 30 when the distance between the search target position and the action data 41, 42 stored in the storage means is more than a certain distance. A flowchart in this case is shown in FIG.
In S31, the position data (xi, yi) stored in the storage means 6 is obtained. Here, i is an index representing a plurality of pieces of information. In S32, the current position (x, y) recorded in the latest S2 is acquired. In S33, the distance di between (xi, yi) and (x, y) is calculated. In S4, di is compared with a threshold value, and if di exceeds the threshold value, S5 is performed. The threshold value is set in advance at 11.
[0026]
Also, for example, 28,. . . , 29, and 30 when the speed calculated from the position and time of the search target exceeds the speed obtained from the action data 41 and 42 stored in the storage unit 6 by a certain amount or more. FIG. 12 shows an example of a flowchart in this case. In S35, time information corresponding to the position stored in the storage means 6 is obtained. In S36, the maximum speed V at which the search target 3 moves is calculated from the position and time information stored in the storage means 6. In S37, the latest time and the time corresponding to the position of the search target 3 recorded in the previous S2 are acquired. In S38, the speed v of the search target 3 is calculated from the information acquired in S37. In S4, v is compared with V + α, and if v exceeds V + α, S5 is performed. The value of α is set at 11 in advance.
[0027]
Also, for example, 28,. . . , 29, 30 enter or exit the area determined from the action data 41, 42 stored in the storage means 6. FIG. 13 shows an example of a flowchart in this case. In S51, time information corresponding to the position stored in 6 is acquired. In S52, the center of gravity (x0, y0) of the position stored in the storage means 6 is calculated. The center of gravity of a specific time zone may be obtained using time information. In S53, a distance r that is likely to be apart between the center of gravity (x0, y0) and the position used for the calculation of the center of gravity is obtained. A predetermined area is set within r + α with the center of gravity (x0, y0) as the center, for example, notification is made outside this area. In S54, the current position (x, y) of the search target is acquired. In S55, the distance d between (x0, y0) and (x, y) is obtained. In S4, d> r + α is determined, and if true, S5 is performed. The value of α is set at 11 in advance.
[0028]
The notification determination condition may change depending on time. For example, notification determination may be performed only on national holidays by changing the way of setting the above conditions. Alternatively, some of the above conditions may be applied only to a time zone considered to be a commuting time zone. When the determination condition is satisfied, the computer 7 may activate not only the notification process but also a certain application.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
The system of the present invention automatically collects time and position information using a position detection system used in a service, and learns a behavior pattern to be searched. For this reason, it is not necessary for a person to collect behavioral patterns on the basis of the search object, and labor and cost are reduced.
[0030]
Also, it is convenient for a subscriber or a business operator to input appropriate notification determination conditions using the behavior pattern as auxiliary information. Specifically, an action pattern is displayed to the condition input user along with the map information. Further, in the present invention, a mechanism is provided in which a service subscriber or a service provider sets a notification determination condition according to an individual search target. For this reason, highly accurate notification determination can be performed, and the frequency of erroneous notification is reduced, thereby improving convenience.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a position search system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a position search system according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a message flow diagram of the position search system of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of input auxiliary information of a notification determination condition according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a stored information format according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a stored information format according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a stored information format according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of input auxiliary information of a notification determination condition according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a position information format according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a notification determination flow according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a notification determination flow according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a notification determination flow according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a notification determination flow according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: subscriber, 2: location detection system, 3: search target, 4: network, 5: service provider, 6: storage means, 7: computer, 8: notification target person, 9: operator, 10: location information, 11, 17: notification determination condition, 12: notification target information, 13: notification, 14: billing, 16: auxiliary information for notification determination input, 18: storage means, 21: position detecting device, 24: subscription application, 25 : Action data acquisition period, 26: condition confirmation, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30: position information, 31: data acquisition confirmation. 60: search target identifiers 60, 61, 62: time, 63: latitude, 64: longitude, 65: control information. 66: Search target identifier. 67: positioning time, 68, 69: positioning result, 75: time zone, 76, 77: center of gravity position, 78: distance from the center of gravity position.

Claims (8)

A search system that measures spatial coordinates representing the position of the search target,
A first notification device for notifying the spatial coordinates of the search target searched by the search system;
First information that is a spatial coordinate series of the spatial coordinates of the search target notified by the first notification device;
And second information that is a set of a positioning time sequence that is a positioning time or a positioning time zone of the spatial coordinate series and the spatial coordinates,
And a storage device that stores action data that is at least one of third information that is space-time information obtained by processing the spatial coordinate series and the positioning time series,
After setting the above search target,
A first process in which the search system locates the spatial coordinates of the search target;
A second process in which the first notification device notifies the spatial coordinates of the search target;
A third process in which the storage device stores the behavior data,
And a control device for controlling the execution of the position search. The position search system according to claim 1,
A computer that determines the status of the search target by a determination condition using the behavior data of the search target,
A position search system comprising at least one of a second communication device that notifies at least one of a determination result determined by the computer and the spatial coordinates to be searched, and an application program started based on the determination result. The position search system according to claim 2,
A position search system having an interface for inputting the determination condition. In the position search system according to claim 1 or 2,
A device that stores map information,
A position search system having an interface for visualizing the behavior data and displaying it on a map. The position search system according to claim 2,
A position search system in which a determination condition is abnormal when a distance between a spatial coordinate of the search target notified to a computer and a position indicated by the action data stored in the storage unit is more than a predetermined value. The position search system according to claim 2,
A position search system in which a determination condition is abnormal when a speed of a search target exceeds a speed obtained from the action data stored in the storage means by a certain value or more. The position search system according to claim 2,
An area obtained by using the spatial information sequence of the search object stored in the storage means is set as a reference area, and when at least one of the following (1) to (3) is satisfied, the determination condition is determined to be abnormal. Location search system.
(1) When the position of the search target person goes out of or enters the reference area (2) When the search target person position does not leave or enter the reference area by a predetermined time (3) Search target person position Is within or outside the above-mentioned reference area continuously for a certain period of time or more When providing a service for searching for the position of the search target using the position search system according to any one of claims 1 and 2, the service is searched for according to at least one of the following rules (1) to (5). A position search system that sets the amount provided.
(1) The higher the acquisition period of the action data of the search target is, the higher the price is set. (2) The higher the type of the action data of the search target is, the higher the price is set. The higher the action range of the action data, the higher the price. (4) The shorter the monitoring time interval of the search target, the higher the price. (5) The higher the frequency of notifying the status of the search target, the higher the price. Set to

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